Credited from: CBSNEWS
The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved a Senate-passed bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which ends a historic 76-day partial government shutdown that impacted essential operations, including pay for federal workers. The bill, which was expedited following warnings from Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin about impending payroll shortfalls, received broad bipartisan support, paving the way for President Trump to sign it into law. The House voted without a formal roll call, reflecting urgent bipartisan cooperation, according to CBS News and Los Angeles Times.
The approved measure does not allocate new funding for immigration enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol, leaving significant political disagreements unresolved. House Democrats pushed for reforms prior to agreeing on funding, particularly following recent fatalities involving federal agents. As a result, a two-track approach is being pursued: immediate funding for most DHS operations with a subsequent focus on the controversial immigration enforcement funding through budget reconciliation, according to BBC and Al Jazeera.
The shutdown, which began on February 14, 2026, has been the longest of its kind, proving to be a significant strain on both federal workers and operational capabilities within DHS. Key services, including those provided by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), faced severe disruptions, exemplifying the stakes involved, as many TSA agents reported for duty without pay. Lawmakers are now transitioning their focus to upcoming budget reconciliation efforts aimed at securing funding for immigration enforcement, an agenda item that continues to foster bipartisan friction, according to South China Morning Post and Le Monde.