Congress has departed Washington this week after negotiators failed to reach a deal on funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), all but ensuring a lapse in funding beginning tomorrow.
DHS funding is set to expire at midnight tonight.
Congress has passed 11 of its 12 annual funding bills in three separate packages, but DHS funding proved particularly challenging for negotiators to agree on.
Senate Democrats voted against a DHS funding bill that would have provided a short term funding extension and have said they would not support any bill that does not significantly alter the tactics used to carry out the administration’s immigration agenda.
Significant funds for DHS were included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed in July 2025. DHS has said the impending funding lapse will not significantly impact Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations.
However, DHS funding also covers the functions of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The Secret Service and Coast Guard would also be impacted.
Negotiations between Senate Republicans and Democrats are expected to continue over the weekend. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have said senators should be prepared to return to Washington on short notice if a deal is reached.
The House and Senate are not scheduled to resume session until after the holiday weekend.
