US House votes to end government shutdown over immigration operations

The vote provides funding for most Department of Homeland Security agencies, except for two subagencies responsible for immigration enforcement.

House Republicans voted to pass Homeland Security funding through a voice vote, effectively ending a 75-day Department of Homeland Security (DHS) partial shutdown—the longest in U.S. history. The decision marks a concession to the Senate, avoiding a further delay that could have extended the shutdown until mid-May. This vote followed an earlier agreement in April between House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) to pursue a two-track funding approach. While some GOP lawmakers opposed the plan due to the lack of funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol, the House ultimately moved forward. In addition, the House passed a budget resolution to initiate new funding measures for immigration enforcement.

After a prolonged standoff, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), excluding immigration enforcement, signaling the end of the longest agency shutdown in U.S. history. The shutdown, which began on February 14, 2026, impacted about 260,000 DHS employees, including TSA, FEMA, and Coast Guard staff, causing furloughs, delayed paychecks, and a surge in workforce resignations. The shutdown stemmed from Democratic opposition to President Trump's immigration policies, notably after two U.S. citizens were fatally shot by federal agents during protests in Minneapolis. Amid worsening airport disruptions and depleting temporary funding, pressure mounted to resolve the impasse. The Senate had approved the package earlier, and the House eventually followed after Republican leaders initiated a separate budget process to fund immigration operations. This path allows for $70 billion in future enforcement funding, to be finalized and approved by June. While many welcomed the resolution, criticism continues over the political maneuvering and treatment of federal employees, who, as unions noted, faced undue hardship during the standoff.

The House of Representatives has passed a budget blueprint aimed at funding immigration enforcement, specifically Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This action marks a critical step toward reopening the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has been shuttered for a record 75 days. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) extended the vote for over five hours to negotiate with Republicans displeased with the removal of E15 ethanol provisions from the upcoming farm bill. Republican leaders are pursuing a two-track approach: a general appropriations bill for most of DHS and a separate, party-line reconciliation process for ICE and CBP funding. The reconciliation process is expected to take several weeks, risking an extended DHS shutdown into May or later.

The US House of Representatives has voted to fund much of the Department of Homeland Security – excluding immigration enforcement operations – and end the longest government agency shutdown in history. The deal struck on Thursday aims to draw a line under a 75-day impasse that had threatened airport chaos and exposed fresh strains within the Republican party.

The House on Thursday unanimously approved a Senate-passed bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, a move that will soon end the 76-day shutdown that has left many critical agencies struggling to maintain operations and pay employees. The bill was approved by voice vote, sending it to President Trump's desk. The shutdown will end once the president signs the legislation into law.

The US Congress approved a bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, ending a record-breaking partial government shutdown that had disrupted critical agencies for more than two months.

After weeks of delay, the House voted to fund much of the Department of Homeland Security, excluding its immigration enforcement operations, ending the longest agency shutdown in history.

Plans to fund the Department of Homeland Security hit a new snag as House Speaker Mike Johnson said his conference will propose a new version of a bill to sustain most of the agency, likely extending its shutdown.

The U.S. House approved a bipartisan bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

President Donald Trump signed bipartisan legislation to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, excluding immigration enforcement operations, ending the longest government agency shutdown in history.