Congress Scrambles to Fund DHS in Eleventh-Hour Maneuver

Lawmakers use parliamentary tactics to avoid direct votes and pass stopgap funding measure

Apr. 2, 2026 at 3:06am

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In a late-night session, the Senate passed a bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security for the rest of the fiscal year, but did so through a voice vote with only five senators present. The House then passed its own version of the DHS funding bill, but without a direct vote. This led to a standoff between the chambers, with the House accusing the Senate of "chicanery" even as they sought to have the Senate quickly pass the House bill by unanimous consent. Ultimately, the House relented and accepted the original Senate bill, ending the six-week DHS shutdown.

Why it matters

The scramble to fund DHS highlights the partisan gridlock in Congress and the lengths lawmakers will go to avoid direct votes on controversial legislation. The maneuvering also exposes the weaknesses in Congress' ability to quickly respond to pressing issues, as the Easter recess loomed and the shutdown threatened to drag on.

The details

Senate Majority Leader John Thune worked behind the scenes to craft a bipartisan bill that could pass the Senate, even though it lacked support from some conservative Republicans. Thune used a "hotline" process to clear the bill with all 100 senators, allowing him to pass it through a voice vote at 2:19 a.m. on Friday with just five senators present. The House then passed its own version of the DHS funding bill on Friday night, but did so by voting on a rule that "deemed" the underlying bill as passed, rather than holding a direct vote. This led to a standoff, with the House accusing the Senate of underhanded tactics, even as they sought to have the Senate quickly pass the House bill by unanimous consent on Monday. Ultimately, the House relented and accepted the original Senate bill, ending the shutdown.

  • The Senate passed the DHS funding bill at 2:19 a.m. on Friday, April 3, 2026.
  • The House passed its own version of the DHS funding bill on Friday night, April 3, 2026.
  • The House and Senate reached an agreement to end the DHS shutdown on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

The players

John Thune

The Republican Senate Majority Leader who crafted the bipartisan DHS funding bill that ultimately passed the Senate.

Mike Johnson

The Republican Speaker of the House who initially opposed the Senate's DHS funding bill, accusing it of being a "joke" and a "gambit".

Chuck Schumer

The Democratic Senate Minority Leader, whom House Speaker Johnson accused of being behind the Senate's DHS funding bill.

Chris Coons

The Democratic senator who was present during the Senate's brief pro forma session on Monday to object to any attempts by Republicans to pass the House's DHS funding bill by unanimous consent.

John Hoeven

The Republican senator who presided over the Senate's pro forma session on Monday and said they did not have consent to pass the House's DHS funding bill.

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What they’re saying

“Republicans are not going to be any part of any effort to reopen our borders or to stop immigration enforcement.”

— Mike Johnson, House Speaker

“I was there to object. I was here just in case there were some shenanigans.”

— Chris Coons, Senator

“We don't have consent yet. They declined. Obviously Sen. Coons was there to do that.”

— John Hoeven, Senator

What’s next

The House is expected to vote to accept the Senate's DHS funding bill, ending the six-week shutdown.

The takeaway

The chaotic process to fund the Department of Homeland Security highlights the partisan gridlock in Congress and the lengths lawmakers will go to avoid direct votes on controversial legislation. The maneuvering also exposes weaknesses in Congress' ability to quickly respond to pressing issues, as the Easter recess loomed and the shutdown threatened to drag on.