The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved a Senate-backed funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), bringing an end to a 76-day partial shutdown that had disrupted federal operations across key security and emergency agencies.
The measure now heads to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign it into law later in the day, according to a White House official.
The approval restores full funding to most DHS agencies, though immigration enforcement operations remain excluded from the agreement.
The bill’s passage marks the conclusion of the longest DHS funding lapse in U.S. history.
House advances Senate-backed deal after months of deadlock
Lawmakers in the House approved the legislation without a recorded vote request, signaling broad procedural agreement to move forward after months of stalled negotiations between the two chambers of Congress.
The Senate-backed bill restores funding to core DHS functions, including border security, cybersecurity, and disaster response through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
These agencies had been operating under restricted budgets during the shutdown, leading to reduced staffing and delays in some services.
The funding dispute had centered on how to structure DHS spending, particularly in relation to immigration enforcement.
While the final deal restores most departmental operations, it leaves immigration enforcement funding outside the scope of the agreement.
A congressional aide familiar with the negotiations said lawmakers faced growing pressure to resolve the shutdown as disruptions began to affect federal operations nationwide.
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“There was increasing concern about operational strain across multiple DHS agencies,” the aide said.
Federal operations resume after 76-day shutdown
The shutdown, which lasted 76 days, had placed significant strain on agencies responsible for national security, border management, and emergency preparedness. With funding restored, DHS is expected to return to full operational capacity in the coming days.
The Department of Homeland Security oversees a wide range of functions, including border patrol operations, transportation security, disaster response coordination, and cybersecurity protection for federal infrastructure.
During the funding lapse, many of these operations continued at reduced levels, while non-essential activities were paused or delayed.
The White House confirmed that President Trump is expected to sign the bill later Thursday, officially ending the shutdown.
“This agreement allows us to restore full functionality to critical national security operations,” a White House official said.
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Why this matters
The resolution of the DHS funding standoff carries significant implications for national security and government stability.
DHS is responsible for protecting U.S. borders, responding to natural disasters, and defending federal systems against cyber threats. Any disruption to its operations can have immediate effects on public safety and emergency readiness.
The 76-day shutdown had raised concerns among lawmakers and security officials about the long-term impact of funding uncertainty on essential services. With the new bill, those agencies regain stable financing, allowing them to resume full staffing and operational planning.
However, the agreement does not resolve deeper political disagreements over immigration enforcement funding, which remains a point of contention between lawmakers.
For now, the passage of the bill ends one of the most prolonged disruptions in DHS history and restores continuity to agencies at the center of U.S. homeland security operations.
