- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Senate Races to Reach DHS Funding Deal Before Recess
Senators negotiate as deadline looms and TSA workers go unpaid
Mar. 26, 2026 at 10:22pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Senators are actively negotiating a deal on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding before a Friday deadline and the start of a two-week congressional recess. Republican leader John Thune said the GOP has made a 'last and final offer' that is now in the hands of Democrats, who have rejected previous proposals that didn't include reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). With TSA workers going unpaid for over a month, there is pressure to reach an agreement, though Democrats say the latest GOP offer is 'not good enough'.
Why it matters
The ongoing DHS funding impasse has led to a partial government shutdown, with TSA agents working without pay and creating long lines at airports. There are concerns that more TSA agents may quit or take time off, further disrupting travel, as the political stalemate continues. The negotiations also highlight the broader partisan divide over immigration enforcement and the role of ICE.
The details
Senate Republican leader John Thune said the GOP's latest plan is in the hands of Democrats, and called it 'our last and final offer.' He didn't share details, but said it's close to what they offered earlier this week, which Democrats voted down because it didn't include ICE reforms. Democrats, including Sen. Andy Kim, say the latest offer is 'not good enough.' Thune later walked back the 'final offer' statement, saying Republicans are willing to work with Democrats to tweak the bill.
- The DHS funding lapse began on February 14.
- The current deadline is Friday, March 29, before Congress begins a two-week recess.
The players
John Thune
Senate Republican leader from South Dakota.
Andy Kim
Democratic senator from New Jersey.
Donald Trump
President of the United States.
John Fetterman
Democratic senator from Pennsylvania, the only Democrat who has voted for the Republican bill.
Tom Homan
White House border czar who met with some centrist Democrats last week.
What they’re saying
“Let's let the Dems react to what's out there, and hopefully we can find a pathway to drive this to the finish.”
— John Thune, Senate Republican leader
“We're talking through it right now but it's not where we want it to be. We just continue to be stuck here.”
— Andy Kim, Democratic senator
“They need to end the shutdown immediately, or we'll have to take some very drastic measures.”
— Donald Trump
What’s next
If the Senate does not agree on a funding bill by Friday, lawmakers may have to delay the start of their two-week recess.
The takeaway
The ongoing impasse over DHS funding highlights the deep partisan divide over immigration enforcement and the role of ICE. With TSA workers going unpaid and travel disruptions mounting, there is growing pressure on both parties to reach a compromise, though significant differences remain.
