WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following a grueling 42-day partial government shutdown that severely disrupted the nation’s airports, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed an overnight funding bill to reopen most of the Department of Homeland Security. This breakthrough agreement specifically excludes funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, addressing a primary demand from Democratic lawmakers seeking immigration reforms. According to reports from AP News, Reuters, and NBC News, alongside Fox News, CBS News, and NPR, the legislative action shifts the focus to the House of Representatives, where the measure faces an uncertain future. Each of the bullet points immediately below have been confirmed by at least four of the six respected sources we curated on this breaking story.
Core Facts
- The U.S. Senate passed legislation in an overnight session to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, including the Transportation Security Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard.
- The funding agreement explicitly excludes appropriations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, marking a concession to Democratic demands for immigration enforcement reforms.
- The passage follows a 42-day funding lapse that forced tens of thousands of federal employees to work without pay and triggered significant delays and staffing shortages at airports nationwide.
- The bill was advanced through the Senate by a unanimous voice vote without a roll call, sending the legislation to the House of Representatives for final approval.
- Shortly before the Senate’s action, President Donald Trump announced his intention to sign an executive order to unilaterally resume pay for TSA officers and alleviate the mounting chaos at the nation’s airports.
Additional Details Reported
While the broader DHS workforce has suffered under the shutdown, previous funding mechanisms such as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” passed in 2025 ensured that ICE officers continued to receive their paychecks. Despite the Senate’s breakthrough, some conservative lawmakers in the House remain critical of separating immigration enforcement funding from the larger package, complicating the legislation’s path to the president’s desk.
Image Attribution ▾
Description: United States Capitol West Front
Credit: Martin Falbisoner, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
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