DHS shutdown stretches to 35 days as Democrats block funding bill

Source: The Hill

03/20/26 3:54 PM ET


The shutdown of the Department of the Homeland Security (DHS) stretched to 35 days on Friday as Senate Democrats voted to block a House-passed bill to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and other critical federal agencies. A motion to advance the bill failed 47-37, falling short of the 60 votes it needed to overcome a Democratic filibuster. Centrist Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.) was the only Democrat to vote “yes.” Sixteen senators from both parties missed the Friday vote.

It marked the fifth time that Democrats voted to block the Homeland Security Appropriations bill since funding for the department expired on Feb. 14. Democrats have dug in their heels against any bill that would fund ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) without implementing reforms to immigration enforcement operations, such as requiring federal officers to obtain judicial warrants before entering homes and banning them from wearing masks.

Democrats have instead offered proposals to split off funding for TSA, the Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other agencies from the parts of the Homeland Security Department responsible for immigration enforcement. Democrats have attempted several times to pass this funding via unanimous consent, but Republicans have objected each time.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) said Democrats will force a vote Saturday on a proposal to fund TSA and alleviate long waits at security lines around the country, which have grown to several hours at some airports. “The chaos at TSA is reaching a boiling point. We need to reopen it as quickly as possible. That is what Senate Democrats are intent on doing,” he said.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5793497-dhs-shutdown-funding-bill/