The Senate passed legislation early Friday to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, moving to end a partial government shutdown impacting airport security and other agencies. The agreement funds components like the Transportation Security Administration and US Coast Guard.
The bill notably withholds funds from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and part of Customs and Border Protection, representing a compromise between Senate Republicans and Democrats. This move follows almost six weeks of impasse and missed paychecks for some federal employees.
Donald Trump stated he would sign an executive order directing the DHS secretary to pay TSA agents during the shutdown, potentially easing immediate pressure on Congress. However, the House of Representatives still needs to act for the funded agencies to reopen.
The Senate’s action occurred as it prepared for a scheduled two-week recess, leaving the final resolution dependent on the House’s response. Most of the department’s operations will be financed, excluding ICE and Border Patrol.