US government shutdown over DHS funding dispute, focusing on TSA pay delays and ICE funding exclusion
Consensus Summary
The US government is in the midst of a prolonged partial shutdown over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with a focus on whether to include Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the bill. The Senate passed a bipartisan funding measure on March 28, 2025, that would fund most DHS componentsāincluding the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and US Coast Guardābut exclude ICE and parts of CBP. However, the House rejected this deal and instead passed its own 60-day stopgap bill funding all of DHS, prolonging the shutdown. The dispute stems from Democrats demanding reforms to ICE after agents killed two US citizens in Minneapolis, while Republicans insist on funding all DHS agencies without conditions. The shutdown has caused significant disruptions, including long security lines at airports and TSA staff working without pay since mid-February. Despite Trumpās executive order directing DHS to pay TSA agents, the funding stalemate continues as both chambers navigate political divisions and recess schedules. The outcome remains uncertain, with Republicans planning to use budget reconciliation to fund ICE and CBP separately, while Democrats vow to block any bill that doesnāt address their concerns about immigration enforcement practices.
ā Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The Senate passed a DHS funding bill (excluding ICE and parts of CBP) by voice vote on March 28, 2025, during an overnight session (Articles 1, 2, 3, 4).
- The House rejected the Senateās DHS funding bill on March 28, 2025, and instead passed its own 60-day stopgap bill funding all of DHS (Articles 2, 4, 5).
- TSA staff have worked without pay since mid-February 2025 due to the funding lapse (Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
- Donald Trump signed an executive order on March 27, 2025, instructing DHS to pay TSA agents immediately (Articles 1, 5).
- Airports in multiple cities (including Houston) experienced long security lines due to TSA staff shortages (Articles 1, 3, 5).
- The partial shutdown of DHS is the longest in US history (Articles 2, 4).
- The Senateās funding bill would fund TSA, US Coast Guard, and FEMA but exclude ICE and parts of CBP (Articles 2, 3, 4).
- House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune agreed to advance the Senateās DHS funding bill after initially rejecting it (Articles 2, 4).
- Nearly 500 TSA officers have quit due to the shutdown (Article 5).
- The House passed a stopgap DHS funding bill on March 28, 2025, extending the shutdown for 8 weeks (Article 5).
- The Senate and House are on recess through April 2025, with brief pro forma sessions scheduled (Articles 2, 4).
- The funding dispute centers on Democrats demanding reforms to ICE after agents killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis (Articles 3, 4).
- The Senateās bipartisan DHS funding bill was passed unanimously (Articles 2, 3, 4).
- The White House confirmed TSA paychecks would begin as early as March 30, 2025 (Article 5).
- The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) provided extra funding for ICE and CBP in 2025, allowing them to operate without DHS funding (Articles 3, 4)
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The Treasury Department announced US paper currency will feature Donald Trumpās signature to commemorate the 250th anniversary, removing the Treasurerās signature for the first time since 1861.
- The Senate failed to pass an amendment to the Save America Act requiring photo ID for voting (52-47 vote).
- Trump urged Republicans to terminate the Senate filibuster during a cabinet meeting.
- Trump claimed Iran was letting 10 oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as a goodwill gesture and repeated that Iran is 'begging to make a deal'.
- Trump wants to renovate the White Houseās Treaty Room into a guest bedroom with an en suite bathroom.
- The US is $30-40 billion into the Iran war, with Israel spending $300 million per day, and no diplomatic agreement in sight.
- The EPA under Trump reversed formaldehyde risk assessments, relying on industry-funded studies by Rory Conolly, which the EPA previously deemed unreliable.
- The Dow closed 450 points down, S&P 500 dipped 1.7%, and Nasdaq fell 2.3% into correction territory due to the Iran war and market concerns.
- House Republicans initially rejected the Senateās DHS funding bill and passed their own 60-day stopgap bill, which Senate Democrats vowed to block with the filibuster.
- Republican leaders Thune and Johnson agreed to drop the Houseās bill and advance the Senate measure after rightwing lawmakers objected to funding only part of DHS.
- The reconciliation bill is expected to include funding for the Iran conflict and elements of the Save America Act.
- Trump endorsed the plan by Republican leaders to pass the Senateās DHS funding bill and then use reconciliation to fund ICE and CBP separately.
- Keith Self (House Freedom Caucus) tweeted that funding ICE and CBP must never be separated from DHS funding.
- Trump said he would put ICE agents in airports until Democrats agree to a DHS budget bill.
- TSA absences reached their highest level since the partial shutdown began, with some workers calling in sick or quitting.
- Democrats held up DHS funding as a response to ICE agents killing Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
- Trump previously stated he would not sign a DHS funding deal unless Congress passed the Save America Act requiring proof of citizenship for voters.
- Lindsey Grahamās Senate budget committee will write a reconciliation bill to fund ICE and CBP separately, which can bypass the filibuster.
- Republican leaders said they would move to pass the Senateās DHS funding bill during brief pro forma sessions during recess.
- The reconciliation bill may also include funding for the Iran conflict and voter ID requirements from the Save America Act.
- The DHS shutdown began on February 13, 2025, after Democrats refused to fund DHS without immigration enforcement reforms.
- The House passed a stopgap DHS funding bill late on March 28, 2025, after rejecting the Senateās bipartisan deal.
- House Speaker Mike Johnson called the Senateās DHS funding bill a 'joke' for excluding ICE and border patrol funding.
- The Senateās bipartisan DHS funding bill was criticized by Republicans for leaving US borders 'unsecured'.
- The White House confirmed TSA paychecks would begin as early as Monday, March 30, 2025, after Trumpās executive order.
- The funding dispute has led to crushing delays at Houstonās international airport, with airport staff handing out water to travelers.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Article 1 states Trumpās executive order to pay TSA agents was signed on March 27, 2025, while Article 5 states it was signed on March 28, 2025.
- Article 1 claims the Senate approved the funding package by a voice vote in a rare overnight session on March 28, 2025, while Article 2 states the House rejected it on March 28, 2025, and passed their own bill.
- Article 3 states Trump said he would put ICE agents in airports until Democrats agree to a DHS budget bill, but Article 1 does not mention this specific threat.
- Article 1 reports the Senate failed to pass a photo ID voting amendment (52-47), while Articles 2, 3, and 4 do not mention this vote.
- Article 5 states the House passed a stopgap DHS funding bill on March 28, 2025, while Article 2 states the House rejected the Senateās bill and passed their own 60-day stopgap bill on March 28, 2025, but does not specify the exact timing of the vote.
Source Articles
Partial shutdown drags on as US House takes no action on compromise deal
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Senate approves funding deal for most of DHS, ending shutdown ā US politics live
The deal would mean TSA staff, who screen airport passengers, baggage and cargo, would start being paid for the first time since mid-February Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter a...
US House passes stopgap DHS funding bill after Republicans reject Senate deal
Bill passes by 213 to 203 votes in move prolonging weeks-long budget standoff that has disrupted travel US House Republicans rejected a bipartisan Senate deal to temporarily fund the Department of Hom...
Republican leaders agree to advance funding deal to end DHS shutdown
Measure that would fund homeland security but exclude money for ICE could conclude lengthy funding lapse An end to the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may be in sight, af...
US Senate passes funding package for Homeland Security that excludes ICE
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