The record-breaking 46-day partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security could soon come to an end, as Republicans in Congress coalesce around a Trump-backed plan to reopen the agency while sidestepping a Senate filibuster fight over immigration enforcement funding.
After days of resistance, House Republicans signaled they are now on board with a two-track strategy first advanced by Senate GOP leaders — a notable shift that clears a potential path to restore funding for DHS operations and pay federal workers.
Under the plan, Congress would move immediately to fund most of DHS through the standard appropriations process, while separately funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection through budget reconciliation — a maneuver that allows Republicans to bypass the Senate’s 60-vote threshold.
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Donald Trump endorsed the strategy Wednesday, urging lawmakers to move quickly.
“We are going forward to fund our incredible ICE Agents and Border Patrol through a process that doesn’t need Radical Left Democrat votes,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, calling for a bill on his desk no later than June 1.
The Senate had already laid the groundwork for the approach. Lawmakers there passed a measure late last week to fund DHS operations excluding ICE and CBP, with plans to address those agencies separately through reconciliation — a process that can pass with a simple majority.
Initially, Mike Johnson resisted that framework, pushing instead for a short-term stopgap bill to fully fund DHS while negotiations continued.
But in a joint statement Wednesday, Johnson and John Thune confirmed that House and Senate Republicans are now aligned behind the two-track plan.
“In the coming days, Republicans in the Senate and House will be following through on the President’s directive by fully funding the entire Department of Homeland Security on two parallel tracks,” they said.
They added that the goal is to fully reopen the department, ensure federal workers receive back pay, and secure long-term funding for immigration enforcement and border security.
The shift marks a significant de-escalation in a standoff that has stretched more than six weeks and disrupted operations across DHS, including strained airport security staffing and broader national security concerns.
Still, logistical hurdles remain. The House is currently in recess, and it is unclear whether lawmakers will return early to take up the funding measures.
Meanwhile, Lindsey Graham has already begun initiating the reconciliation process in the Senate — a complex and time-consuming procedure that could take weeks to complete.
If the plan holds, it would allow Republicans to resolve the shutdown while isolating the most contentious immigration funding fight — and doing so on terms that avoid needing Democratic votes.
The coming days will determine whether the agreement can translate into actual votes — and finally bring the longest DHS shutdown on record to a close.
More over at The New York Post:
Trump and GOP reach deal to end DHS shutdown hell – fund ICE separately https://t.co/hQr1lFgGvX pic.twitter.com/vjcMvMV2zr
— New York Post (@nypost) April 1, 2026
