Despite a new breakthrough on Capitol Hill, the Department of Homeland Security shutdown will continue through at least next week as lawmakers on spring break are scattered across the country and globe.
Early in the morning on April 2, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, moved to unanimously resend a funding bill for the agency back to the House of Representatives. The legislation, which President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson have blessed, would provide money for all of DHS while shifting funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol to a separate party-line budget bill.
The House of Representatives did not, however, approve the bipartisan legislation over on its side of the chamber – and isn't scheduled to return for another brief "pro forma" session until Monday, April 6.
Since Congress is technically on a scheduled two-week recess, leaving skeletal representation in both chambers, the funding extension must have unanimous support to go to the president's desk. The House's inability to immediately take up the DHS bill on Thursday, April 2, showed there may be concerns within the House Republican conference it has enough support to survive without any lawmakers objecting.
