Trump Signs Bill Ending 75-Day Homeland Security Funding Gap

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a bill to end a 75-day funding gap for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), paving the way for the department's normal operations to resume. The legislation passed the House with bipartisan agreement, following a month-long delay in the Senate.

While the bill secures most of DHS funding through September, it does not include appropriations for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

House Republicans had objected to provisions within the Senate bill that would have cut funding for law enforcement agencies. However, Speaker Mike Johnson changed his stance after the White House urged swift passage of the Senate's package. A separate, party-line package is being planned by Republicans to secure funding specifically for ICE and CBP.

DHS is one of the largest government agencies within the U.S. executive branch, employing over 200,000 people. Its components include ICE, CBP, the Secret Service, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Coast Guard, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The 75-day DHS funding lapse was the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history. The White House had warned that employees could face unpaid wages starting in May if the House did not pass the Senate's partial funding bill.