DHS Shutdown Ends For TSA And Secret Service, But Border Security Left Hanging

The shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security is largely coming to an end after the House approved a Senate-backed funding plan that reopens most of the agency, while leaving border enforcement operations unresolved.

The measure, passed by voice vote, funds key components like the Transportation Security Administration and the United States Secret Service, but excludes funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.

Those two agencies are expected to be funded through a separate reconciliation package, a process Republicans are using to bypass the Senate’s 60-vote threshold and advance border enforcement funding without Democratic support.

President Donald Trump is expected to sign the legislation, easing immediate concerns about missed paychecks for DHS employees after weeks of uncertainty.

The shutdown began in mid-February as Democrats pushed for sweeping changes to immigration enforcement policies, opposing several initiatives tied to the Trump administration’s broader crackdown efforts.

Earlier this month, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune aligned with the White House on a two-track strategy. That approach funds most DHS operations immediately while addressing ICE and CBP separately through reconciliation.

Republicans argued Democrats rejected a short-term funding extension that would have kept the entire department running while negotiations continued, accusing them of prioritizing policy demands over operational stability.

Democrats had pushed for changes such as restrictions on enforcement tactics and additional procedural safeguards. However, those proposals are unlikely to survive in a reconciliation bill, which is limited in scope by Senate rules.

The effects of the shutdown were most visible at airports, where long lines became common as TSA workers operated without pay for weeks. The situation highlighted the strain on frontline employees and raised broader concerns about travel disruptions.

With most of DHS now funded, the focus shifts to the unresolved fight over border enforcement, setting up another major legislative battle in the weeks ahead.