Homeland Republicans Applaud End of Democrat DHS Shutdown; Move to Fully Fund the Department

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- This week, House Committee on Homeland Security Republicans applauded President Trump signing into law H.R.7147, legislation that funds the majority of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Fiscal Year 2026 and ends Congressional Democrats' forced shutdown of the Department. Committee leaders expressed their continued support and appreciation to all DHS employees who continued their critical work to keep their fellow Americans safe despite facing months of financial pain and uncertainty caused by Democrats' political games:

House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY) said: "For 76 days, Congressional Democrats forced a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security as we face evolving threats both at home and abroad. As Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, I'm glad that today we fully funded TSA, FEMA, CISA, the Coast Guard, the Secret Service, and other vital components so the men and women on the front lines can get back to focusing on their mission. As a lifelong New Yorker and representative of a community forever marked by 9/11, I know how important that mission is. While the majority of the Department has now been funded, I remain committed to ensuring every component of DHS, including those tasked with border security, has the resources and oversight needed to succeed."

Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Chairman Michael Guest (R-MS) said: "I am pleased to see the end of the Democrat-led shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. Congress has a responsibility to fund our government on time and in regular order, and that should include ICE and Border Patrol. The Democrats' insistence on excluding them from this bill is dangerous and should not go unnoticed by the American people. Republicans will continue to support DHS and the important work they do to keep our country safe and secure."

Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology Chairman Dale Strong (R-AL) said: "With President Trump's support, this bill finally puts an end to the Democrat-led Department of Homeland Security shutdown-with none of the Democrats' radical policy demands attached. This bill, in addition to the budget resolution we concurrently passed, will allow us to fully fund the Department, make sure DHS personnel are paid, and ensure immigration enforcement procedures continue without delay.

Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) said: "For 76 days, Democrats held DHS funding hostage to protect illegal aliens and enable wasteful spending. House Republicans passed a funding bill four times already, and Democrats blocked each one. With national security threats on the rise, and the World Cup only 42 days away, leaving DHS unfunded puts the safety of every American citizen at risk. The men and women who serve this country are heroes, not bargaining chips. I will not stop fighting until every DHS entity is fully funded."

Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability Chairman Josh Brecheen (R-OK) said: "Today, the House passed legislation positioning Republicans to end the longest partial government shutdown in our nation's history. I am glad we could get this legislation across the finish line, as funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is critical for ensuring our national security. I am grateful to every frontline DHS employee who has tirelessly served our nation over the last several months in spite of liberals villainizing them in the media."

Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security Chairman Carlos Giménez (R-FL) said: "For 76 days, our transportation and maritime security systems were under strain, impacting ports, airports, and the flow of commerce that keeps our economy moving. This Democrat shutdown was a political stunt that put politics over lives and our national security at risk. Now that the shutdown is finally over, our focus must be on restoring stability, reinforcing our critical infrastructure, and ensuring this kind of disruption never happens again. We must always put security first."

Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Chairman Andy Ogles (R-TN) said: "Despite the Democrats' targeted assault on DHS, House Republicans reopened the department and put American National Security first. Soon, Congress will supercharge CBP and ICE capabilities to keep our borders secure and deport tens of millions of illegal aliens at a record pace. America first."

Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) said: "I strongly applaud the passage of today's DHS funding bill, which is critical for closing security gaps ahead of our upcoming FIFA World Cup games. Despite Democrats' attempts to play political games with ICE and CBP, I am also glad this bill funded CBP's National Targeting Center, which works to identify and stop travelers and cargo that pose a threat to our nation. With only 42 days left until kickoff, DHS must be operating at peak capacity. As chairman of the Special Events Task Force, I will continue doing everything in my power to ensure these games are fun and safe for everyone involved. Our next order of business must be fully funding CBP and ICE - including ICE's crucial Homeland Security Investigations office, which leads essential anti-human trafficking efforts at large-scale sporting events."

Background:

During a shutdown, many of the DHS's more than 250,000 employeeswho dedicate their lives to keeping the American people safe, are forced to work without knowing when their next paycheck will come. The shutdown undermined critical efforts across DHS components, such as those tasked with disaster response, cybersecurity and infrastructure protection, transportation security, and border security.

In January, the House passed six final appropriations bills, including the first passage of the bipartisan agreement to fund DHS for a full fiscal year. The legislation provided funding for body cameras, de-escalation training, and resources for DHS's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to enhance transparency. Additionally, the House-passed version included vital funding to support the personnel and missions of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and more. In February, House Homeland Security Committee and Appropriations Committee Republicansissued statementscondemning Senate Democrats' actions, warning that the funding lapse puts the safety and security of Americans at risk.

In March, House Republicans voted again to fully fund DHS. They also voted in favor ofH.Res.1128, introducedby Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA), which emphasized the critical need to fully fund the Department and expressed deep gratitude for the tens of thousands of DHS employeeswho continued to safeguard the nation without pay.

Throughout the shutdown, DHS officials testified that the lapse has caused unnecessary strain on the Department's workforce, disrupted coordination with state and local partners, and weakened the nation's security posture. In March, the Committee held a hearingwith Admiral Thomas Allan, Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard; Ha Nguyen McNeill, Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Administrator of TSA; Nicholas Andersen, Acting Director and Deputy Director of CISA; and Victoria Barton, Associate Administrator for the Office of External Affairs at FEMA, who all highlighted the significant negative impacts of the shutdown on their respective agencies. In the Committee's February oversight hearing, leaders from U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) all testified that a DHS shutdown would undermine interagency coordination and hinder the department's ability to effectively carry out its core mission.

The Committee also held a hearingwith FIFA host city and law enforcement stakeholders for the World Cup in February, who raised concerns about the potential impacts of the ongoing shutdown and federal funding delays on security preparations for these events.

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Homeland Security Committee Republicans