DHS Funding Deal Stalls in Congress Amid Ongoing Negotiations

Senate Democrats and Republicans remain at odds over border security reforms as TSA staffing shortages loom

Mar. 22, 2026 at 12:25am

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Negotiations between Senate Democrats and Republicans over a funding deal for the Department of Homeland Security have stalled, with the two sides at odds over the Trump administration's proposed reforms to immigration enforcement agencies like ICE and CBP. Democrats are withholding support for the funding bill until the White House agrees to impose a mask mandate, judicial warrant requirements, and a universal code of conduct for federal agents. As the shutdown continues, the president has sparked backlash by announcing he will send ICE agents to airports to help with security amid staffing shortages.

Why it matters

The DHS funding impasse threatens to disrupt critical government functions like airport security, disaster response, and cybersecurity at a time of heightened national security concerns. The dispute also highlights the deep partisan divide over immigration policy and the limits of executive power, with Democrats pushing for greater oversight and accountability of federal immigration enforcement.

The details

Senate Democrats and Republicans have been negotiating with the White House for weeks to try to reach a deal on DHS funding, but have so far failed to bridge their differences. Democrats are demanding that the administration impose several reforms on ICE and CBP, including a mask mandate, judicial warrant requirements, and a universal code of conduct for federal agents. Republicans have resisted these demands, leading to an impasse. Meanwhile, the president has announced he will send ICE agents to airports to help with security during the shutdown, drawing criticism from Democrats who say this is an illegal misuse of the agency.

  • Negotiations between the White House and Congress have been ongoing for weeks.
  • A meeting scheduled for Saturday evening between White House border czar Tom Homan and lawmakers was canceled that same afternoon.
  • On Saturday, the president announced he would send ICE agents to airports to help with security during the shutdown.

The players

Tom Homan

The White House's border czar, who has been meeting with centrist Democrats in an effort to find a path forward on DHS funding.

Patty Murray

A Democratic senator from Washington who has participated in the DHS funding negotiations.

Maggie Hassan

A Democratic senator from New Hampshire who has participated in the DHS funding negotiations.

Catherine Cortez Masto

A Democratic senator from Nevada who has participated in the DHS funding negotiations.

Angus King

An independent senator from Maine who caucuses with Democrats and has participated in the DHS funding negotiations.

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What they’re saying

“All we're asking for is that ICE agents follow the same rules as pretty much every other law enforcement out there in this country. Same kind of accountability, same kind of lucid engagements in making sure that the public is safe.”

— Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Senator

“He seems to have no concept of what the limits are on ICE, and I think America would be absolutely appalled to see ICE agents roaming through airports, just as they've been breaking down doors at homes.”

— Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Senator

“We could solve these issues in an evening if Trump would simply say yes or get out of the way. If Trump were just to go radio silent, rather than going thunderbolt fresh, there would be solutions within reach, and there is a path to the kinds of reforms that are routine for police departments all around the country, as we've been saying again, and again, and again.”

— Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Senator

What’s next

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has called on Republicans to fund the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) now, even as negotiations continue over the broader DHS funding package. However, Republicans have rejected Schumer's proposal, arguing it would not effectively reopen the agency.

The takeaway

The ongoing DHS funding impasse highlights the deep partisan divisions in Congress over immigration policy and the limits of executive power. While both sides claim to want a solution, they remain at an impasse over the administration's proposed reforms to immigration enforcement agencies like ICE and CBP. The standoff threatens to disrupt critical government functions and services, underscoring the need for bipartisan compromise on this issue.