Congress Ends Record DHS Shutdown with New Funding Bill

Congress passed legislation on April 30, 2026, to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), excluding immigration enforcement agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), thereby ending the longest DHS shutdown in U.S. history ^[1][2]. President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan DHS funding bill shortly after its passage in the House ^[1][3].

The shutdown lasted approximately 75 to 76 days, beginning on February 14, 2026, and ending on April 30, 2026 ^[2][4]. The funding restored operations for agencies including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard, Secret Service, and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), but did not include ICE or Border Patrol ^[2][3].

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) agreed to a two-track funding approach: immediate funding for most DHS agencies, with ICE and CBP to be funded later via reconciliation ^[2][3]. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin warned that the agency was close to running out of emergency funds to pay staff before the funding passed ^[2][3].

What Is Known

The legislation passed by Congress provides funding for the majority of DHS operations, excluding certain immigration enforcement agencies ^[1][2]. The shutdown, which began on February 14, 2026, lasted about 75 to 76 days, marking the longest in DHS history ^[2][4]. The bill was signed into law by President Trump on April 30, 2026 ^[1][3].

What Remains Unclear

While the funding bill has ended the shutdown for most DHS agencies, the timeline and specifics for funding ICE and CBP remain uncertain. The two-track funding approach suggests that these agencies will be addressed through future legislative actions ^[2][3].