House Weighs Partial DHS Funding Deal to Pay TSA Agents and End 42-Day Airport "Chaos"

The House considers a Senate-passed deal to pay TSA workers and reopen most of DHS. Learn why immigration enforcement was left out of the funding package.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 27, 2026, 1:57 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from the Associated Press (AP).

A Breakthrough for Travelers and Federal Workers

The 42-day stalemate over Homeland Security funding appears to be nearing an end as the House evaluates a Senate-passed "partial" funding bill. The legislation is designed to restore pay to nearly 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSO) officers and thousands of other federal employees at FEMA and the Coast Guard. Speaker Mike Johnson is currently meeting with House Republicans to navigate the procedural hurdles required to pass the measure by the Friday deadline, as pressure mounts to resolve the "Chaos at the Airports" that has seen call-out rates exceed 40% in some major hubs.

The "Carve-Out" Strategy: Funding vs. Enforcement

The core of the compromise involves a selective funding approach. By funding the TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard while excluding the more controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol operations, lawmakers hope to peel away enough votes to reopen the government.

Democrats' Stance: Leaders like Chuck Schumer have vowed to keep fighting for "serious reform" of what they term President Trump's "rogue" immigration operations.

Republicans' Stance: Conservative Republicans remain frustrated that the entire department was not funded. Many, including Sen. Eric Schmitt, have insisted that the next budget fight must center on fully funding the "mass deportation agenda."