House approves bill to fund DHS and end record-setting government shutdown

WASHINGTON (TNND) — The House on Thursday approved funding for a majority of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) — excluding its immigration enforcement operations — with the bipartisan package now heading to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature.

The move brings an end to the longest agency shutdown in U.S. history.

“Don’t doubt the House Republican majority,” House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters after the vote. “We always deliver for the American people. We did it again in spite of the challenges — and we will continue to do that.”

The chamber’s narrow Republican majority, led by Johnson, had struggled to move the bill forward amid internal party divisions over a range of issues, including DHS funding.

Johnson said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be funded for three years.

“Democrats got absolutely nothing for their political charade and shenanigans,” Johnson said.

“We repeatedly offered in good faith — I want to point out and remind everybody — to negotiate in funding these agencies,” he added. “But ultimately the sad and, actually, shocking truth is there’s not a Democrat in the House or the Senate that believes border security and immigration enforcement should exist at all. By word and deed, Democrats have made clear their desire to defund both of those critical functions of our government.”

Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, a Democrat, said House Republicans “finally caved” and joined Democrats to approve the bill.

“After sitting on his hands while the men and women of DHS went without pay, Mike Johnson finally did what he should have done a month ago: join Democrats in passing the bipartisan bill to end the Republican DHS shutdown,” Thompson said in a statement. “Republicans manufactured this crisis, prolonged it for months, and forced thousands of public servants and their families to pay the price. We are glad Congress will finally be able to fund these vital agencies and pay the men and women who serve this country. But Democrats will continue demanding major structural reforms at ICE and CBP in the face of their continued misconduct and abuses of power.”

The White House had warned that temporary funding used to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers and other personnel was running out, raising concerns about airport disruptions.

DHS has been without regular funding since February 14, creating hardships for employees, though key parts of Trump’s immigration agenda at the center of the dispute have continued to receive separate funding.

The Senate approved the bipartisan package unanimously a month ago, but it had stalled in the House until now.

The House now passed the measure quickly by voice vote, without a formal roll call.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.