House Considers Funding for TSA and Most of Homeland Security

Senate unanimously passes measure to pay TSA agents and other DHS agencies, but not ICE

Mar. 27, 2026 at 10:18pm

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The House is considering whether to approve funds to pay Transportation Security Administration agents and most other Homeland Security agencies after the Senate unanimously passed the measure early Friday morning. The deal does not include funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but the package puts no new limits on immigration enforcement, which has remained largely uninterrupted during the shutdown.

Why it matters

The 42-day government shutdown has resulted in travel delays and warnings of airport closures as TSA workers who are missing paychecks stop coming to work. Multiple airports are experiencing greater than 40% callout rates of TSA workers, and nearly 500 of the agency's nearly 50,000 transportation security officers have quit during the shutdown.

The details

The Senate early Friday morning approved Homeland Security funds to pay Transportation Security Administration agents and most other agencies, but not the immigration enforcement operations at the heart of the budget impasse that has jammed airports, disrupted travel and imposed financial hardship on workers. The deal, which was approved unanimously without a roll call, next goes to the House, which is expected to consider it later Friday. Prior to the Senate bill's passage, President Donald Trump had said he would sign a separate order to pay the TSA agents immediately, but nothing has been signed yet.

  • The House is considering the measure on Friday, March 27, 2026.
  • The Senate unanimously passed the measure early Friday morning.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who said he would sign an order to immediately pay the TSA agents.

Everett B. Kelley

The president of the American Federation of Government Employees who implored Congress to end the longest partial government shutdown.

Jason Ambrosi

The president of the Air Line Pilots Association who said the TSA officers who keep showing up for work deserve to be paid.

Andy Harris

The chair of the Freedom Caucus who said the deal is "bad for America" and "bad for Americans".

Mike Johnson

The Speaker of the House who said it's to be determined how the House will proceed on the Homeland Security funding bill.

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What they’re saying

“The House can demonstrate its bipartisan support of the hardworking professionals of DHS who serve the public with dedication, respect, and excellence.”

— Everett B. Kelley, President of the American Federation of Government Employees

“They are still worrying about mortgages, childchild keeping the lights on, yet they keep coming to work without being paid.”

— Jason Ambrosi, President of the Air Line Pilots Association

“This deal is bad for America. It's bad for Americans.”

— Andy Harris, Chair of the Freedom Caucus

What’s next

The House is expected to consider the Senate's funding measure for TSA and most of Homeland Security later on Friday, March 27, 2026.

The takeaway

The 42-day government shutdown has caused significant disruptions at airports across the country, with TSA workers missing paychecks and hundreds quitting their jobs. This bipartisan Senate deal to fund TSA and most of Homeland Security, while leaving out ICE, represents a potential compromise to end the impasse and restore normal airport operations.