House Republicans Block Senate Proposal, Extending Government Shutdown

Sat Mar 28 2026 11:36:57 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The ongoing partial government shutdown sees House Republicans rejecting a bipartisan Senate deal, leading to significant delays in air travel and affecting TSA agents' pay.

House Republicans have opted against a Senate agreement to reopen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), resulting in a continued government shutdown. TSA agents remain unpaid, contributing to severe delays at airports, while the debate over immigration enforcement funding intensifies amid mixed bipartisan sentiments.

House Republicans have rejected a bipartisan deal from the Senate aimed at reopening the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), thereby prolonging a partial government shutdown that has severely impacted air travel. The Senate's proposal sought to reopen most of DHS but excluded funding for immigration agencies to secure Democratic support. House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed the Senate bill as a joke and insisted on including provisions for immigration enforcement.

The rejected Senate measure would have generated significant funding for crucial agencies, yet House Republicans pushed forward with their plan that would maintain current DHS funding—including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—for the next 60 days. Speaker Johnson stated unequivocally, Republicans are not going to be any part of any effort to reopen our borders or to stop immigration enforcement. The House passed their alternative legislation late Friday with a vote count of 213 to 203, sending the measure back to the Senate, where its future is uncertain.

Democratic leaders, including Senator Chuck Schumer, have labeled the Republican bill as dead on arrival and are advocating for halting funding to immigration agencies without substantial reforms. This ongoing legislative impasse comes as the TSA faces a workforce crisis, with agents not receiving pay for over a month, leading to substantial delays at airport security checkpoints across the country. Current reports indicate that only 30% to 50% of TSA checkpoints are operational, exacerbating travel woes for the public.

Amidst these challenges, President Trump announced an executive order to provide back pay for airport security agents, as DHS communicated that some TSA officers would see paychecks as soon as March 30. However, this executive action may face legal hurdles, considering the constitutional authority given to Congress to allocate federal spending. Trump's intervention was criticized by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who emphasized that the shutdown resulted from the Democrats' refusal to reach an agreement.

The ongoing shutdown continues to stir controversy, particularly concerning the actions of ICE agents, which have drawn public scrutiny following incidents involving U.S. citizens. As Congress approaches a two-week recess, the likelihood of a resolution regarding DHS funding involving security and immigration positions remains bleak.

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