House Republicans Uphold Government Shutdown Amid Controversy Over Immigration Funding

Sat Mar 28 2026 11:25:41 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

In a shocking political maneuver, House Republicans have dismissed a bipartisan Senate deal aimed at reopening the Department of Homeland Security, consequently extending a partial government shutdown that has resulted in significant travel disruptions.

House GOP leaders rejected a Senate proposal to fund the Department of Homeland Security, insisting on stricter immigration measures. With TSA agents unpaid for over a month, airport chaos is expected to escalate as Congress heads into a two-week break.

In a recent development, House Republicans have notably rejected a bipartisan deal proposed by the Senate to reopen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), marking a significant extension of the ongoing government shutdown that has already led to considerable travel delays across the United States.

The Senate's proposed legislation aimed to reopen many DHS functions while intentionally excluding funding for immigration agencies to secure support from Democratic lawmakers. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson condemned the bipartisan proposal, labeling it a 'joke.'

As a result of this impasse, TSA agents, who are vital to airport security, have been working without pay for over a month, exacerbating the situation at airports nationwide. With Congress scheduled to take a two-week recess, any resolution for funding DHS appears increasingly unlikely.

House Republicans are adamant about including provisions for immigration enforcement in any legislation, while their approved plan would maintain DHS funding levels, including allocations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), for an additional 60 days.

Speaker Johnson emphasized, 'Republicans are not going to be part of any effort to reopen our borders or to stop immigration enforcement,' as the measure passed by a close vote of 213 to 203 and heads back to the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has already described the bill as 'dead on arrival' in the upper chamber, highlighting a significant divide between the parties on immigration policy and funding directed at the agencies under DHS.

While the funding deadlock persists, President Trump announced an order to expedite payments to airport security personnel, with the DHS indicating that TSA officers could see their paychecks as soon as March 30. However, this intervention may face legal challenges based on constitutional guidelines that task Congress with authorizing federal spending.

The situation remains dire as the Department of Homeland Security, covering crucial agencies like TSA, ICE, and Customs and Border Protection, struggles to maintain operations, resulting in travelers experiencing prolonged wait times and widespread disruptions at major airports.