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WATCH LIVE: Senate meets to consider DHS funding to end shutdown
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WATCH LIVE: Senate meets to consider DHS funding to end shutdown

#Senate #DHS #funding #shutdown #live #government #meeting

📌 Key Takeaways

  • The Senate is convening to discuss funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
  • The meeting aims to address and potentially end a government shutdown.
  • The session is being broadcast live for public viewing.
  • Funding for DHS is a critical issue under consideration.

📖 Full Retelling

A bipartisan group of senators met behind closed doors Thursday with White House border czar Tom Homan, a small sign of progress as lawmakers look to end a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security that began more than a month ago.

🏷️ Themes

Government Funding, Shutdown Resolution

📚 Related People & Topics

United States Department of Homeland Security

United States Department of Homeland Security

United States federal executive department

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the U.S. federal executive department responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior, home, or public security ministries in other countries. Its missions involve anti-terrorism, civil defense, immigration and customs, b...

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Senate

Senate

Upper house of a bicameral legislature

A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: Senatus), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: senex meaning "the elder" or "old man") and therefore considered wiser and more experienced ...

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Entity Intersection Graph

Connections for United States Department of Homeland Security:

👤 Kristi Noem 24 shared
👤 Donald Trump 15 shared
👤 Markwayne Mullin 10 shared
🌐 Presidency of Donald Trump 4 shared
🌐 TSA PreCheck 4 shared
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Mentioned Entities

United States Department of Homeland Security

United States Department of Homeland Security

United States federal executive department

Senate

Senate

Upper house of a bicameral legislature

Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

This news matters because it involves a critical government funding decision that directly affects national security operations and federal employees. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding is essential for border security, immigration enforcement, and emergency response capabilities. A shutdown would disrupt these vital functions and potentially furlough thousands of workers, while funding approval ensures continuity of operations that protect American citizens.

Context & Background

  • The Department of Homeland Security was created in 2002 following the 9/11 terrorist attacks to consolidate national security functions
  • Government shutdowns occur when Congress fails to pass appropriations bills or continuing resolutions to fund federal operations
  • Previous DHS funding debates have centered around border security measures and immigration enforcement priorities
  • The current fiscal year began on October 1, with temporary funding measures (CRs) keeping agencies operating until now

What Happens Next

If the Senate approves the funding bill, it will go to the House of Representatives for consideration and potentially to the President for signature. If passed, the shutdown threat would end immediately, and DHS operations would continue normally. If rejected, the partial government shutdown affecting DHS would continue, potentially triggering emergency measures and further negotiations between congressional leaders and the White House.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to DHS employees during a shutdown?

Essential personnel like border patrol and TSA agents continue working without pay until funding is restored, while non-essential employees are furloughed. All affected workers typically receive back pay once funding is approved.

Why is DHS funding controversial?

DHS funding often becomes contentious due to debates over border security measures, immigration enforcement priorities, and resource allocation between different security functions. Political disagreements about these policies frequently delay funding agreements.

How long can a government shutdown last?

Shutdowns can last from days to weeks depending on political negotiations. The longest shutdown in U.S. history lasted 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019, primarily over border wall funding disputes.

What other agencies are affected by this shutdown?

While this specific article focuses on DHS, government shutdowns typically affect multiple agencies that haven't received funding. Other departments commonly impacted include Transportation, Commerce, and Agriculture, depending on which appropriations bills have been passed.

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Original Source
By — Kevin Freking, Associated Press Kevin Freking, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH LIVE: Senate meets to consider DHS funding to end shutdown Politics Mar 20, 2026 9:58 AM EDT WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of senators met behind closed doors Thursday with White House border czar Tom Homan, a small sign of progress as lawmakers look to end a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security that began more than a month ago. The Senate convenes at 12 p.m. EDT. Watch live in our video player above. Funding for the department lapsed on Feb. 14 as Democrats refused to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as Customs and Border Protection without changes to their operations in the wake of the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis. READ MORE: DHS secretary nominee Mullin presents a different vision for FEMA than predecessor Noem Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., said the next step in resolving the impasse will be another White House counteroffer, then lawmakers will regroup. Other senators in the meeting included top appropriators on both sides of the political aisle. They indicated the two sides are still far apart, but at least they are talking. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. The talks come at a time of growing strain at the nation's airports, where some are reporting long lines at screening stations because Transportation Security Administration agents working without pay are calling out sick. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the problem is likely to get worse next week without a resolution. "The AIRPORT LINES you're seeing now are CHILD'S PLAY compared to what you will see next week if TSA misses another PAYCHECK!" Duffy said in a social medi...
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