Budget Dispute Continues in US Congress: Homeland Security Faces Partial Shutdown

March 28, Kathmandu: Following the failure of a bipartisan agreement crafted by House Republicans, a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is escalating. Although the Senate approved a proposal to cut funding for immigration agencies while sustaining other security departments, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson dismissed the measure as a ‘joke’ and rejected it. This political impasse has caused extensive delays at airports nationwide, with travelers subjected to hours-long security lines.

On Friday night, the House passed its own new proposal by a vote of 213 to 203, guaranteeing continuous funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for 60 days. However, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has already declared the bill ‘dead on arrival’ in the Senate. Democrats are demanding stricter budget conditions for ICE agents, citing the killings of U.S. citizens Reni Good and Alex Preti in Minnesota. Their calls include requiring agents to wear masks, prohibiting racial profiling, and mandating judicial warrants to enter private property.

Meanwhile, after a two-week congressional recess, nearly 50,000 TSA agents have now gone unpaid for over six weeks. According to Jim Szeciak, Aviation Director at Houston Airport, fewer than half of security checkpoints are operational. Amid the deepening crisis, President Donald Trump issued an executive order instructing that TSA agents receive their pay starting Monday. However, as the constitutional authority to approve the budget lies solely with Congress, this move may face legal challenges.