Bipartisan negotiations to end the monthlong Department of Homeland Security shutdown have moved into high gear, with White House border czar Tom Homan joining urgent talks on Capitol Hill. The shutdown, now in its 33rd day, has caused major airport disruptions and left thousands of federal employees without pay, intensifying pressure on lawmakers to strike a deal before the upcoming Easter recess.
For over a month, the Department of Homeland Security has operated without full funding—a result of a partisan standoff that now threatens national security and transportation systems. But this week, negotiations took a decisive turn.
Top Republicans and Democrats met with White House border czar Tom Homan in the Capitol on Thursday, marking the first formal sit-down since the shutdown began 33 days ago. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., immediately raised the stakes, threatening to cancel the cherished two-week Easter recess unless a deal is reached.
“We’ve been encouraging this for a while, and glad to see both sides sitting down and having Homan up here,” Thune told reporters. “Being a part of that is, I think, a pretty big deal, and a recognition that we need to get this resolved. And it needs to get resolved by the end of next week. I can’t see us taking a break if the government is still shut down.”
The shutdown began on February 14 after DHS officers shot and killed two American citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in Minneapolis. In response, Democrats allowed other parts of the government to be funded but vowed to block funding for DHS until Republicans agreed to significant reforms to immigration enforcement. NBC News documented the subsequent House hearing where the administration’s immigration heads were questioned about these incidents.
While many DHS functions continue, including TSA security at airports and FEMA disaster response, some employees are working without pay. More than 60,000 TSA officers missed their first full paycheck this week, leading to financial strain and increased absenteeism. The impact on air travel is now severe: at Philadelphia International Airport, TSA has closed three security checkpoints due to staffing shortages, forcing longer lines and delays for travelers. NBC News has tracked the mounting travel disruptions.
The negotiators in Thursday’s meeting included key Democratic appropriators: Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, along with Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Angus King of Maine, and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada. Republican Sens. John Hoeven of North Dakota and Katie Britt of Alabama also participated, with Britt calling the talks productive.
“We’re just working, trying to figure out how to get DHS funded. We got TSA agents out there that aren’t getting paid, and we need to come up with a solution,” Hoeven said. “I think we made some progress. Homan’s gonna stay engaged. His expertise is very helpful.”
The White House, through Homan and legislative affairs head James Braid, has outlined five areas for negotiation in a letter to GOP negotiators Sens. Susan Collins and Katie Britt. Three key proposals include:
- Expanding the use of body-worn cameras and requiring retention of that footage for congressional oversight
- Limiting civil immigration enforcement activities at sensitive locations, including hospitals and schools
- Requiring all DHS law enforcement officers to display proper identification during operations
Democrats are pushing a different approach. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., is demanding that Speaker Mike Johnson bring separate legislation to the floor to pay TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard, and other non-ICE DHS employees immediately. “All Speaker Johnson needs to do is bring the legislation to the floor that will pay TSA agents and reopen the parts of the Department of Homeland Security that have nothing to do with ICE,” Jeffries said.
Republicans insist on funding the entire department in one bill, rejecting piecemeal measures. The impasse persists even as Homan, dispatched by President Trump to overhaul immigration enforcement after the Minneapolis killings, now leads the White House negotiating team. As he left Thursday’s meeting, Homan shook his head when asked if a deal had been reached.
“I’m glad that the White House was here, but we are a long ways apart,” Murray said succinctly.
In a separate development, the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Thursday advanced the nomination of Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to lead DHS. NBC News reported that the committee advanced his nomination by a single vote, with Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., joining Republicans. Mullin could be confirmed by the full Senate as soon as next week.
The shutdown’s extension into a second month has created a perfect storm of political pressure. With airline passengers facing longer lines and delays, and federal workers enduring financial hardship, the public spotlight on the impasse has intensified. The looming Easter recess—a break lawmakers typically use for family time, campaigning, or overseas trips—now hangs in the balance, giving Senate leaders a powerful lever to force a resolution.
Historical parallels are striking. The 2018-2019 shutdown over border wall funding lasted 35 days and cost the economy an estimated $11 billion. While this shutdown is partial, its impact on critical transportation security and emergency management functions is unprecedented, with TSA already warning of increased wait times and potential checkpoint closures at major airports.
For Democrats, the standoff is about securing tangible reforms to immigration enforcement operations that they argue are necessary to prevent future tragedies like the killings of Good and Pretti. For Republicans, the demand to fund the entire department together is a matter of principle and national security unity.
The coming week will be decisive. With Homan now deeply engaged and Thune’s recess threat looming, the two sides must bridge their differences or face the political consequences of a prolonged shutdown during an election year, where every unpaid worker and delayed traveler becomes a potential voter.
For the fastest, most authoritative analysis of breaking political developments, onlytrustedinfo.com delivers expert insights you won’t find elsewhere. Read more of our in-depth coverage to stay ahead of the story.
