DHS Shutdown Update

The ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, which has lasted for 48 days, is inching closer to resolution. On Thursday morning, the Senate took a significant step by agreeing to send a bipartisan proposal to fund various parts of the department, except for President Trump’s immigration and border security efforts, over to the House.

Through a voice vote, the Senate moved to consider this plan, though a formal vote in the House won’t happen until members reconvene on April 13. The Senate’s action comes after GOP leaders backed a two-phase strategy for funding the DHS. President Trump has given lawmakers a pressing deadline to address severe funding shortfalls.

This Senate vote feels familiar to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who had previously helped pass a similar bill last week.

House Conservatives Express Discontent

The Senate’s proposal represents an initial step towards collaboration, although it strips most funding from ICE and Border Patrol, which would result in an $11 billion cut in customs funding. The measure also does not allocate the $10 billion designated for ICE.

Republicans intend to push for a different budget reconciliation proposal that would fully fund ICE and Border Patrol for three years, bypassing Democratic resistance. President Trump hopes to have new legislation ready by June 1.

“We’re going to work swiftly to restore funding for Border Patrol and ICE agents; the radical left won’t manage to stop us,” Trump stated on Truth Social.

However, House Republican leaders have strongly criticized the plan, labeling it a “clap sandwich” since it neglects funding for both ICE and CBP. They have warned about the perils of using budget reconciliation for these agencies and have introduced a counter-proposal to the Senate. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has dismissed this counter-proposal as “null and void on arrival.”

Following a statement from President Trump signaling support for Thune’s approach, House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared to soften his previously firm position.

Republican Challenges Ahead

With the DHS shutdown continuing, Trump and Congressional Republicans are looking toward budget reconciliation as a potential means to fund immigration enforcement in the future. There’s even some thought among Republicans to fund ICE for a decade, extending beyond Trump’s current term.

In the previous year, Republicans adopted a similar strategy for ICE, raising $75 billion for enforcement over the next four fiscal years. Yet, this party-line method presents its own set of challenges, especially as lawmakers gear up for elections.

Identifying spending cuts to finance this will be crucial. During the process to pass Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July 2025, disagreements over cuts to federal spending nearly derailed the effort.

Absent tight deadlines, those in the party are voicing concerns about maintaining unity. Proposals have been floated to tie additional issues into the settlement, such as Iraq war funding, affordability measures, tariffs, and elements of the Save America Act focused on election integrity.

The budget reconciliation process allows the governing party to pass tax and spending priorities with a simple majority, though it imposes strict conditions on what’s permissible. Applying future funding claims to ICE could adversely affect the support personnel in both agencies, who have remained unpaid during the prolonged shutdown.

Democrats Deny Funding Requests

Throughout the shutdown, Senate Democrats have consistently blocked funding for ICE and Border Patrol. Although no immigration enforcement reforms have been adopted, Democratic leaders are claiming victory. “Senate Democrats held firm throughout this struggle,” asserted Senator Schumer. “We prioritized critical security and refused to grant unchecked funding to ICE and Border Patrol.”

As discussions progress, the Senate’s proposed funding for much of DHS still faces possible hurdles in the House, where some conservatives are already declaring their intention to oppose it. Representative Scott Perry articulated a stark warning on social media: “By yielding to Democrats and denying ICE and CBP funding, you’re essentially defunding law enforcement and leaving our borders vulnerable.” He firmly asserted that he would vote against the proposal if the opportunity arose.