As the DHS partial shutdown drags on, Senator Mike Lee called on President Trump to use constitutional powers to force the Senate back from recess, following the House's passage of a continuing resolution and stalled talks on a prior Senate funding compromise. Airport disruptions continue despite Trump's executive order redirecting funds to TSA.
The DHS funding impasse, now impacting 260,000 employees including TSA operations with long airport lines from worker shortages, has seen conflicting actions from Congress. Previously, the Senate passed a bipartisan bill funding most DHS components except ICE and Border Patrol, which House Republicans rejected in favor of a clean continuing resolution. Late Friday, before recessing for Easter, House Speaker Mike Johnson led passage of a 60-day CR funding the full department until May.
On Sunday, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) posted on X urging Trump to invoke Article II, Section 3 to convene the Senate on this 'extraordinary occasion,' highlighting unpaid workers. A Monday pro forma session produced no progress, with Democrats like Sen. Chris Coons blocking the House bill.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump is pressing Congress for permanent funding. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the House CR 'dead on arrival,' while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries pushed for the Senate's deal. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), a rare Democratic supporter of the House bill, noted Trump agreed to ICE reforms like body cameras for full 2026 funding.
Trump's Friday executive order redirected ICE funds to pay TSA temporarily and deployed ICE agents to airports, despite training gaps. Democrats had sought ICE reforms including body cameras and mask bans, which Republicans resisted.
