The deal, which the Senate approved unanimously without a roll call, next goes to the House, which is expected to consider it Friday.
LISA MASCARO and MARY CLARE JALONICKThe Senate early Friday morning approved Homeland Security funds to pay Transportation Security Administration agents and most other agencies, but not the immigration enforcement operations at the heart of the budget impasse that has jammed airports, disrupted travel and imposed financial hardship on workers.
The deal, which the Senate approved unanimously without a roll call, next goes to the House, which is expected to consider it Friday. "We can get at least a lot of the government opened up again and then we'll go from there," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. "Obviously, we'll still have some work ahead of us." With pressure mounting to resolve the 42-day stalemate over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, the endgame emerged in the final hours before TSA workers miss another paycheck Friday. President Donald Trump said he would sign an order to immediately pay the TSA agents, saying he wanted to quickly stop the "Chaos at the Airports." The deal did not include any of the restraints Democrats have demanded as they sought to rein in Trump's mass deportation agenda. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said the outcome could have been reached weeks ago, and vowed that his party would continue fighting to ensure Trump's "rogue" immigration operation "does not get more funding without serious reform."Senators worked through the night on the deal that would fund much of the rest of the department, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Coast Guard and TSA, but without funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Customs was funded, but Border Protection was not. The package puts no new limits on immigration enforcement, which has remained largely uninterrupted by the shutdown. The GOP's big tax cuts bill that Trump signed into law last year funneled billions in extra funds to DHS, including $75 billion for ICE operations, ensuring the immigration officers are still being paid despite the lapse. Next steps in the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., holds a slim majority, are uncertain. Passage will almost certainly require bipartisan support, as lawmakers on the left and right flanks revolt. Conservative Republicans have panned their own party's proposals, demanding full funding for immigration operations. Many have vowed to ensure ICE has the resources it needs in the next budget package to carry out Trump's agenda. "We will fully fund ICE. That is what this fight is about," Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., said as he tried to offer legislation to fund the agency. "The border is closing. The next task is deportation."Earlier Thursday, Thune announced he had given a "last and final" offer to the Democrats. But as the day dragged on, action stalled out. Democrats argued the GOP proposals have not gone far enough at putting guardrails on officers from ICE, Customs and Border Protection, and other federal agencies who are engaged in the immigration sweeps, particularly after the deaths of two Americans protesting the actions in Minneapolis. They want federal agents to wear identification, remove their face masks and refrain from conducting raids around schools, churches or other sensitive places. Democrats have also pushed for an end of administrative warrants, insisting that judges sign off before agents search people's homes or private spaces - something new Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has said he is open to considering. Trump had largely left the issue to Congress, but warned he was ready to take action, threatening to send the National Guard to airports in addition to his deployment of ICE agents who are now checking travelers' IDs. The White House had floated the extraordinary move of invoking a national emergency to pay the TSA agents, a politically and legally fraught approach. Instead, Trump's order would pay TSA agents using money from his 2025 tax bill, according to a senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to discuss it publicly. If the Senate package is approved by the House and signed into law, the action Trump announced to pay TSA agents would not be needed.The funding shutdown has resulted in travel delays and even warnings of airport closures as TSA workers missing paychecks stop coming to work. Multiple airports are experiencing greater than 40% callout rates of TSA workers and nearly 500 of the agency's nearly 50,000 transportation security officers have quit during the shutdown. Nationwide on Wednesday, more than 11% of the TSA employees on the schedule missed work, according to DHS. That is more than 3,120 callouts. Everett Kelley, the president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said the union is grateful the TSA workers will be paid, but said Congress must stay in session to pass a deal "that funds DHS, pays all DHS workers, and keeps these vital agencies running." At George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Melissa Gates said she would not make her flight to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after waiting more than 2 hours and still not reaching the security checkpoint. She said no other flights were available until Friday.Copyright © 2026 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
TSA boss warns of airport shutdowns as Homeland Security funding fight drags onThe acting head of the Transportation Security Administration says it may have to shut down operations at some airports.
Read more »
TSA boss warns of airport shutdowns as Homeland Security funding fight drags onThe acting head of the Transportation Security Administration says it may have to shut down operations at some airports.
Read more »
TSA boss warns of airport shutdowns as Homeland Security funding fight drags onThe TSA may have to shut down operations at some airports if the budget impasse drags on, the agency's acting head said Wednesday.
Read more »
TSA boss warns of airport closures as Homeland Security funding fight drags onThe TSA may have to shut down operations at some airports if the budget impasse drags on, the agency's acting head said Wednesday.
Read more »
Trump to Sign Emergency Order to Pay TSA Agents Amidst Funding StalematePresident Trump plans to sign an emergency order to pay TSA agents as the Senate struggles to reach an agreement on Department of Homeland Security funding. The government shutdown has led to significant airport delays and rising absenteeism among TSA workers, with the Senate on the verge of spring break. Separately, this morning, closing arguments will be heard in the capital murder trial of Christopher Preciado in San Antonio; and an investigation is underway for a officer-involved shooting involving a Castle Hills Police detective.
Read more »
TSA Agents Face Hardships Amid Government Shutdown, Airport Security SuffersAirport security lines are strained as the ongoing government shutdown leaves TSA workers without pay, leading to absences and financial hardship. The impasse in Congress over funding for the Department of Homeland Security and ICE continues, with both parties blaming each other. President Trump ordered immediate pay for TSA agents, but the issue remains unresolved, impacting airport operations and TSA employees' well-being.
Read more »