Senate Republicans are weighing a new strategy to break the ongoing impasse over funding the Department of Homeland Security, as airport disruptions and staffing shortages intensify during the partial government shutdown. At the center of the proposal is Ted Cruz, who is urging colleagues to separate funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from the rest of the department.
Cruz’s idea, which he discussed with fellow lawmakers on Saturday, reflects growing frustration within the GOP conference over stalled negotiations with Democrats on immigration enforcement reforms. “What I’ve suggested is that the Democrats have gotten so extreme and unreasonable that I don’t know that they will ever be willing to fund Department of Homeland Security,” Cruz said. He added that Republicans could instead fund ICE and CBP through the budget reconciliation process, which requires only a simple majority in the Senate.
The proposal comes as the shutdown continues to disrupt operations nationwide, particularly at airports. Cruz pointed to mounting delays and staffing shortages at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), saying travelers are facing “two-, three-, four-hour waits” and missing flights. He also noted that TSA agents have missed two paychecks and that more than 300 have resigned amid the financial strain.
The situation has been especially severe at major Texas airports, including Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental and Hobby airports, where wait times have reportedly stretched beyond three hours due to high absentee rates among TSA workers.
Cruz’s plan appears to be gaining traction among some Republicans. Thom Tillis said he is open to incremental approaches to resolve the standoff, noting, “Anything that we have to do, even incrementally, to get some of this impasse done, I’d be open to.” He also emphasized the urgency of reaching a resolution before lawmakers leave for recess.
Similarly, John Kennedy suggested advancing a funding bill for all Homeland Security operations except ICE, while using reconciliation to secure immigration enforcement funding separately. Such a move would allow Republicans to bypass a Democratic filibuster.
The debate follows earlier efforts by Democrats to separate funding along similar lines. On March 11, Patty Murray sought unanimous consent to fund agencies like TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard independently of ICE and CBP. That request was blocked by Katie Britt, who accused Democrats of playing “political games.”
Despite the partisan tensions, some lawmakers see the emerging proposals as a potential pathway to ending the 36-day shutdown. John Thune, the Senate Majority Leader, did not dismiss the idea outright but stressed that a comprehensive agreement remains the preferred outcome. “There are a lot of ideas swirling around right now but the best way would be for us to come together” on a full funding deal, he said.
Negotiations are ongoing, with White House officials and congressional leaders continuing talks aimed at a broader agreement. Republican lawmakers indicated Saturday that discussions are showing signs of progress, though significant differences remain. For now, the prospect of splitting Homeland Security funding underscores both the urgency of the crisis and the deep divisions shaping the debate in Washington.
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