House Ends 75‑Day DHS Shutdown, Clears Path for $70 Billion ICE/Border Patrol Funding

*TL;DR The House approved a Senate‑passed funding bill, ending the 75‑day Department of Homeland Security shutdown, and a budget resolution earmarks $70 billion for ICE and Border Patrol through 2029.

Context A 75‑day shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began on Feb. 14 after Democrats blocked a funding package over immigration‑enforcement reforms. The impasse left thousands of workers unpaid and threatened essential services such as airport security and disaster response. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin warned that without a deal, emergency funds would run out and payroll would halt.

Key Facts - The House voted by voice to pass a Senate‑originated bill that funds most DHS components, including FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), the Coast Guard, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Secret Service, through September. - President Donald Trump signed the measure Thursday, restoring paychecks and preventing further service disruptions. - The bill does not contain new money for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the Border Patrol, reflecting Democratic demands for immigration‑policy changes. - In parallel, the House approved a budget resolution that authorizes $70 billion for ICE and Border Patrol over the next three years. The resolution directs committees to draft legislation that can be passed under the Senate’s reconciliation process, allowing Republicans to approve it without Democratic votes. - The budget resolution follows a Senate unanimous vote on the same funding framework and a prior House rejection of a similar plan, which Speaker Mike Johnson called “a joke.”

What It Means Funding for core DHS agencies resumes, stabilizing airport security lines, disaster response, and maritime safety. However, ICE and Border Patrol remain unfunded in the immediate bill, leaving their future financing dependent on the upcoming reconciliation legislation. If Republicans secure the $70 billion allocation, immigration enforcement could continue uninterrupted for the rest of the Trump term, bypassing Democratic policy demands. The next step will be committee work on the reconciliation bill and its passage before the congressional recess ends.

Watch for the rollout of the reconciliation legislation and any Democratic response that could reshape the funding timeline.