President Donald Trump called on Congress during a cabinet meeting on Thursday to swiftly resolve the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, which has caused significant disruptions for air travelers. “They need to end the shutdown immediately, or we’ll have to take some very drastic measures,” Trump stated from the White House. Although he didn’t specify the measures he might consider or his involvement in negotiations aimed at resuming DHS funding, the situation has escalated over the past month.
The shutdown has resulted in Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents working without pay, leading to increased absenteeism and longer wait times at airports. This has intensified pressure on lawmakers to come to an agreement, yet negotiations have seemingly reached a stalemate. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) mentioned that Democrats have received Republicans’ “last and final offer,” while withholding details of the proposal. He confirmed that the White House has been involved in the ongoing discussions.
Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations subcommittee, refrained from disclosing specifics of the GOP plan, acknowledging that “there’s obviously active talks happening.” With Congress’s scheduled two-week recess approaching and TSA line delays growing, negotiations have recently intensified, leading to a fleeting sense of optimism earlier this week.
A gathering of Senate Republicans at the White House on Monday yielded a supposed compromise: funding for 94% of DHS, excluding the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement and removal divisions. However, Democrats have rejected the proposal, citing a lack of essential operational changes they have long pursued since a controversial immigration crackdown last February.
Republicans firmly dismissed a revised offer from Senate Democrats that included some of those sought-after proposals. Reports suggest the latest GOP proposal is akin to previous iterations, aiming to fund all of DHS with the exception of ICE’s enforcement operations while also addressing Democratic concerns regarding the potential for other divisions of DHS to perform enforcement tasks.
The ongoing standoff raises the likelihood of extending the shutdown, potentially disrupting the recess lawmakers are expected to take. Thune told reporters that it remains “an open question” whether Congress would manage to adjourn as planned.
This week, the White House indicated it supported the GOP plan to reopen DHS, although Trump has not publicly endorsed the proposal. Additionally, the administration has deployed ICE agents to assist at airports and Trump may consider mobilizing National Guard members for further support. Some Republican lawmakers have floated a bill to provide funding exclusively for TSA. Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) expressed confidence in garnering Republican support for this approach, while Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) noted a general consensus on TSA funding, but emphasized the need for clarity on the agency’s funding sources.
Amid these discussions, Senate Democrats have consistently pushed for votes to fund all DHS segments except ICE. Murphy reiterated, “We’ve been offering that on the floor every day. So of course we would fund TSA alone.” However, Thune cautioned that a TSA-only bill wouldn’t address the broader issues, highlighting the importance of funding for other critical agencies, such as FEMA and the Coast Guard.
As the deadline looms, implications for air travel and national security continue to mount, with all eyes on Washington for a resolution.
— Emily Wilkins contributed to this story.
Original Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/26/trump-tsa-shutdown-dhs.html
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Publish Date: 2026-03-27 00:29:00
