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Congress Scrambles to Fund DHS in Eleventh-Hour Maneuver
Lawmakers use parliamentary tricks to avoid direct votes and pass a bipartisan bill to end the DHS shutdown
Apr. 2, 2026 at 3:22am
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In a late-night scramble, the Senate passed a bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security for the rest of the fiscal year using a voice vote with only five senators present at 2:19 a.m. on a Friday. This move sidestepped a formal roll call vote, angering House Republicans who then passed their own DHS funding bill. The two chambers ultimately reached a compromise, with the House accepting the Senate's original bill despite conservative opposition.
Why it matters
The chaotic process highlights the partisan gridlock in Congress and the lengths lawmakers will go to avoid direct votes on major legislation. The DHS funding lapse had led to growing airport delays and concerns about national security, underscoring the importance of resolving the impasse.
The details
Senate Majority Leader John Thune orchestrated the late-night Senate vote, using a 'hotline' process to clear the bill with all 100 senators in advance and avoid any objections on the floor. House Speaker Mike Johnson initially rejected the Senate bill, accusing it of being a 'joke' that would 'reopen our borders.' But by Wednesday, the House had accepted the Senate's original legislation, ending most of the DHS shutdown despite opposition from conservative Republicans.
- The Senate passed the DHS funding bill at 2:19 a.m. on Friday, April 2, 2026.
- The House passed its own DHS funding bill on Friday night, April 2, 2026.
- The House accepted the Senate's original DHS funding bill on Wednesday, April 7, 2026.
The players
John Thune
The Republican Senate Majority Leader who orchestrated the late-night Senate vote to pass the DHS funding bill.
Mike Johnson
The Republican Speaker of the House who initially rejected the Senate's DHS funding bill before the House ultimately accepted it.
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 a brief Senate pro forma session on Monday to object to any Republican attempts to pass the House's DHS funding bill.
John Hoeven
The Republican senator who presided over the brief Senate pro forma session on Monday and said they did not have consent to pass the House's DHS funding bill.
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 formally approve the Senate's original DHS funding bill in the coming days, ending the shutdown.
The takeaway
The chaotic process behind funding the Department of Homeland Security highlights the partisan gridlock in Congress and the lengths lawmakers will go to avoid direct votes on major legislation, even if it means using parliamentary tricks to sidestep the normal legislative process.
