Ask Onix
House Republicans reject Senate deal, advance own funding plan
Republicans in the US House of Representatives have spurned a bipartisan Senate agreement to reopen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), opting instead for a separate measure that extends the partial government shutdown.
Senate compromise excluded immigration funding
The Senate had earlier approved a bill that would have restored funding to most DHS operations but omitted allocations for immigration enforcement agencies. Democrats supported the move, which aimed to break the deadlock.
House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed the Senate proposal as a "joke," insisting that any legislation must include funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The House passed its own bill late Friday by a 213-203 vote, keeping DHS funding at current levels for 60 days.
"Republicans are not going to be any part of any effort to reopen our borders or to stop immigration enforcement," Johnson stated.
TSA agents remain unpaid as shutdown drags on
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, responsible for airport security, have not received paychecks for over a month. The impasse has led to severe staffing shortages, with only 33% to 50% of TSA checkpoints operational, according to Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for the Houston Airport System.
Approximately 50,000 TSA agents have been working without pay since mid-February, resulting in hundreds of resignations and reduced daily turnout. Travelers across the US have faced hours-long delays at security checkpoints.
Trump intervenes with executive order
Former President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he would sign an executive order to immediately compensate TSA agents. The DHS confirmed on X that paychecks could arrive as early as Monday, March 30.
The move has raised legal and political concerns, as the US Constitution grants Congress the authority to authorize federal spending. Senate Majority Leader John Thune criticized the necessity of Trump's intervention, stating, "Trump should never have had to step in to rescue TSA workers and US air travel."
Democrats demand reforms for ICE funding
Senate Democrats have refused to approve funding for ICE and Customs and Border Protection without policy changes. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer declared the House bill "dead on arrival" in the Senate, emphasizing that Democrats would not support a "blank check" for ICE.
Demands include banning racial profiling, prohibiting ICE agents from wearing masks, and requiring judicial warrants for property entries. The push follows controversy over ICE operations, including the fatal shootings of US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis earlier this year.
Congress adjourns for two-week break
With lawmakers leaving for a two-week recess, prospects for resolving the DHS funding impasse appear slim. The shutdown's impact on airport security and federal agencies is expected to persist in the near term.
