House Republicans reject Senate deal, prolonging partial US government shutdown

US House Republicans have turned down a bipartisan agreement to restart operations at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), opting instead for a separate plan that extends the partial shutdown. This decision has kept airport security measures in limbo, creating significant delays at major checkpoints. The Senate previously approved a bill that would have revived most DHS functions but excluded support for immigration agencies to secure Democratic backing, which opposes funding without policy changes.

Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the Senate’s approach, calling it a “joke.” House leaders argued that the legislation should include funding for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to maintain full DHS operations for 60 days. Meanwhile, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents have not received paychecks in over a month, leading to operational challenges at airports. The House passed the alternative plan in a 213 to 203 vote late Friday, sending it back to the Senate for approval.

Senate Democrats, including top leader Chuck Schumer, dismissed the House bill as “dead on arrival,” emphasizing their refusal to fund immigration enforcement without reforms. With Congress entering a two-week recess, the likelihood of passing DHS funding soon appears slim. President Donald Trump intervened by signing an executive order to pay TSA agents, aiming to alleviate the backlog. The DHS reported that employees might begin receiving wages as early as Monday, though legal and political hurdles remain.

For months, approximately 50,000 TSA agents have worked without pay, impacting airport security efficiency. In Houston, only a third to 50% of checkpoints are functioning, according to Jim Szczesniak, the city’s aviation director. This has resulted in some agents absent from duty and hundreds resigning. Trump’s directive to immediately compensate TSA workers drew criticism from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who blamed Democrats for the stalemate.

“Trump should never have had to step in to rescue TSA workers and US air travel,” Thune remarked after the vote, highlighting the Democrats’ role in delaying agreement. He noted that the absence of a funding bill for DHS this year stems from their “determined refusal to reach a deal.”

The Senate Democrats’ package included provisions for TSA, Coast Guard, and FEMA, but it excluded funding for ICE and border patrol. Schumer stated the measure was framed as a response to the recent killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis. He argued that the package ensures no unrestricted support for immigration enforcement, demanding accountability and reforms such as ending mask mandates for agents, banning racial profiling, and requiring judicial warrants for property entries.