Pressure Mounts on Congress to End Record DHS Shutdown
Congressional Republican leaders have announced a new strategy to end the record-setting partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) revealed a plan to return to a Senate proposal that would fund most of the department through an agreement with Democratic senators, moving past their internal party split that previously stalled negotiations. The funding lapse, now the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history, has left lawmakers facing intense pressure to return to Washington from their recess. This pressure originates from unexpected sources, including celebrity news outlet TMZ, and is amplified by former President Donald Trump, who has publicly urged lawmakers to reconvene and even hinted at invoking rarely used powers to force a session. The White House has also joined the call for Congress to return. Despite the announced plan, its success is not guaranteed as it could face opposition from both Democratic lawmakers and factions within the GOP. The impasse has real-world consequences, with reports of Americans canceling spring break plans and federal employees, including TSA agents, FEMA personnel, and Coast Guard members, working without pay.
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Republican leaders in Congress announce plan to ending Homeland Security shutdown | Federal News Network
Mike Johnson and John Thune said Republicans will return to a Senate plan to fund most of the department through an agreement with Democratic senators. ... WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced a plan Wednesday to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security, moving past a split between the two Republican leaders that resulted in Congress leaving Washington last week without a fix to a record-setting partial government shutdown...
Republican leaders in Congress say they'll pursue a path to ending the partial shutdown | PBS News
Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Neither outcome is guaranteed, and the strategy could potentially still face opposition from Democrats, if not the GOP's own ranks. "We appreciate and share the President's determination to once and for all bring an end to the Democrat DHS shutdown," said Johnson, R-La., and Thune, R-S.D. The plan represents a return ...
The longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history continues with no end in sight. NBC News Capitol Hill Correspondent Julie Tsirkin discusses the pressure facing Congress as some Americans cancel spring break plans and lawmakers are accused of “living their lives.”
From TMZ to Trump, pressure grows to bring Congress back during partial shutdown | PBS News
Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Beyond TMZ, President Donald Trump also wants lawmakers to come back, even hinting he might invoke rarely used powers to call Congress into session. Still, it is not clear what a return would accomplish, with the 45-day partial government shutdown ...
On Friday, House Minority Leader ... shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, make sure TSA agents are paid, stand up for FEMA and for the Coast Guard, for our cyber security professionals, and stop inconveniencing Americans." ... Sahil Kapur is a senior national political reporter for NBC News. ... Kyle Stewart is a producer and off-air reporter covering Congress for NBC News, ...
As the partial government shutdown drags on, pressure is growing from unexpected sources like the celebrity news site TMZ to bring Congress back into session. Former President Trump has also joined the chorus of voices demanding lawmakers return to Washington to resolve the impasse.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, ... Security shutdown that began more than a month ago, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, March 23, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Read More ... President Donald Trump speaks with reporters during the swearing in ceremony for Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Read More · From TMZ to Trump, pressure grows to bring Congress back during ...
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