GOP Leaders Unveil Plan to End DHS Partial Shutdown

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced a joint plan Wednesday to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), signaling a potential end to the record-setting partial government shutdown.

The Republican leaders outlined a two-track strategy. The first track reinstates the Senate’s proposal to fund most DHS operations, excluding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol. The second track would pursue separate legislation later this year to fund these agencies through a party-line vote.

Both tracks face uncertainties, including potential opposition from within the GOP, despite former President Donald Trump’s support. Johnson and Thune emphasized their alignment with Trump’s push to resolve the shutdown.

“This plan aims to finally end the Democrat DHS shutdown,” the two leaders said in a joint statement.

The announcement reflects a redo of last week’s Senate-approved bipartisan funding agreement, which passed through unanimous consent. While the Senate could approve the same legislation as soon as Thursday, it remains unclear how quickly the House could move it forward. The second phase of funding ICE and Border Patrol could take several months.

Previously, House Republicans rejected the Senate’s plan, proposing instead a 60-day full DHS funding bill, causing the shutdown to continue as lawmakers left for a two-week recess. The shutdown has now reached 47 days.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer praised Democratic unity for pressuring Republicans to reconsider their strategy, stating GOP divisions had “made American families pay the price for their dysfunction.”

Some conservative Republicans, however, remain adamant that funding ICE and Border Patrol is non-negotiable. Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) warned against “defunding law enforcement and leaving borders wide open.”

It is still uncertain if Speaker Johnson can secure enough support to recall the House before the mid-April recess. Meanwhile, a narrower budget package later this year is expected to ensure ICE and Border Patrol funding through the remainder of Trump’s term.

Trump reiterated his position Wednesday, calling for a bill to fund the immigration portions of DHS without Democratic support, aiming to have it signed into law by June 1.

House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries responded, urging Republicans to end the shutdown, pay TSA agents, and fully fund all DHS operations not related to Trump’s deportation agenda.

While most DHS employees continue to work during the shutdown, thousands remain unpaid. TSA callouts have disrupted airport security lines, though backpay issued through Trump’s executive order is helping ease the bottlenecks.