Senate Pleads to Fund DHS, But ICE and TSA Still Playing Hard to Get
KEY POINTS
- •Senate Majority Leader John Thune pushed Thursday for sustainable DHS funding including ICE and Border Patrol for the rest of 2026.
- •President Trump instructed Homeland Security to pay TSA agents directly, bypassing stalled congressional negotiations amid a 40-day shutdown.
- •Democrats refused to compromise on ICE reform, blocking DHS funding efforts and escalating partisan tensions according to statements from Trump and Senate sources.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune tried sounding optimistic Thursday night, urging GOP senators to 'fund DHS sustainably'—yes, including those charming squads we call ICE and Border Patrol—so we can eventually stop blaming Congress for letting TSA agents suffer 40 days in eternal no-pay limbo. Meanwhile, Trump pulled his usual "Oops, sidestep Congress" move by ordering Homeland Security to shovel cash over to TSA workers, which is basically the legislative equivalent of sneaking cookies before dinner. Thune’s email summons hopeful 'unanimous consent' magic, but with Chuck Schumer labeled 'Cryin' Chuck' and Democrats refusing to trade ICE reform for a shot at ending the shutdown, it's more gridlock than gridiron. As Angus King soberly noted, other DHS agencies are on the hook too, with $200 billion Pentagon-budget missile rides lurking in reconciliation bills no one wants to touch without gloves and prayers.
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(1 of 3)Nothing screams government efficiency like 40-day TSA unpaid limbo and lawmakers threatening ‘Radical Left’ boogeymen to dodge actual ICE reform funding.
Watching Trump pay TSA workers by fiat while Congress bickers is like watching your parents argue over the WiFi password during a Netflix blackout.
If 'unanimous consent' were Olympic sport, Senate DHS funding talks just took home the participation trophy—and maybe some tears.
Source: Axios | Published: 3/27/2026 | Author: Hans Nichols
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