DHS funding impasse continues as House and Senate remain at odds

• The Senate passed a partial DHS funding bill that excludes ICE, but the House has not taken it up, leaving the longest partial government shutdown in history unresolved with no clear end in sight.
• With the Senate on a two-week recess and the House pursuing its own continuing resolution to fund all of DHS through May 22, the shutdown is expected to extend into at least mid-April.

After 42 days without full funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the U.S. Senate voted early Friday morning, March 27, to pass a partial funding bill for the agency. The U.S. House did not take up the Senate's bill, and the partial government shutdown continues. The Senate has left Washington for a two-week recess, leaving the path forward unclear.

Where things stand

The Senate passed a bill to fund all of DHS except Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and parts of Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The House declined to take up that bill and is instead pursuing a short-term continuing resolution (CR) that would fund the entire department – including ICE – at current funding levels through May 22. This would mark the fourth time the House has passed a bill to fully fund DHS. That measure would need to return to the Senate for approval, but its prospects there remain uncertain, particularly with the Senate now on a two-week recess.

In the meantime, President Trump signed a memo directing the newly confirmed DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to resume paying TSA employees using existing funds – a near-term measure to address airport staffing shortages while Congress works toward a longer-term resolution.

How does this impact counties?

DHS funds programs that help counties prepare for and recover from disasters, keep airports and transit systems safe, and protect local governments from cyberattacks. The funding package at the center of the debate includes:

$32 billion for FEMA – a $4.7 billion increase over last year – to support disaster response and recovery

$26.4 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund, which helps counties rebuild after hurricanes, floods, and other major disasters

$3.8 billion for preparedness grants to help state and local first responders train and prepare for emergencies

$272.7 million for community projects across the country

What's next

With the Senate on recess and the two chambers at an impasse over how to fund DHS, the shutdown is likely to continue into at least mid-April. The House is expected to vote on its own CR in the coming days, though it faces an uncertain path in the Senate. There is also ongoing discussion in Congress around potentially addressing remaining funding questions through a second budget reconciliation package. NACo will continue to monitor developments and update county leaders as the situation evolves.

Read NACo's full appropriations analysis.