The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved legislation to restore funding for most subagencies within the Department of Homeland Security after a 76-day lapse that had disrupted operations across the department.
The measure, which had already cleared the Senate more than a month earlier, provides full funding for DHS components that are not directly involved in immigration enforcement. Those agencies include the U.S. Coast Guard, Transportation Security Administration, Secret Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
President Donald Trump is expected to sign the bill into law shortly, restoring budget stability for those departments after weeks of uncertainty.
Lawmakers are now preparing a separate funding package focused on immigration enforcement agencies, including Customs and Border Protection’s Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Republican leaders have indicated plans to move that legislation forward with a target date of June 1, following a request from the White House.
The split approach has drawn criticism from some Republican lawmakers. Representative Chip Roy of Texas expressed strong opposition on the House floor, arguing that separating funding for immigration enforcement agencies undermines the work and morale of federal personnel assigned to border security and deportation operations.
House Speaker Mike Johnson had previously rejected the Senate-passed bill, describing it as deeply flawed. However, his position shifted this week after the White House pressed Congress to act quickly to prevent further disruptions in DHS operations. Johnson later emphasized alignment with the administration’s priorities and described congressional Republicans and the White House as working in coordination.
The Senate’s version of the bill moved forward with limited support from Democrats, as Republican leaders in that chamber required cross-party backing to overcome procedural hurdles. Senate Democrats had signaled opposition to any measure that would prioritize funding for immigration enforcement agencies.
A White House memo warned lawmakers that continued delays could lead to funding shortfalls affecting DHS personnel beginning in May. It cautioned that such a lapse could disrupt air travel security, leave key law enforcement personnel without pay, and pose broader risks to national security operations.
.jpg)
