Senate Fails Again to Advance DHS Funding Amid Airport Delays
Senate vote failed 47-37 as talks with White House border czar Tom Homan continued and airport screening delays worsened amid a DHS shutdown since Feb. 14.
TownhallSenate Democrats Block DHS Funding As Airport Chaos Mounts Nationwide
CNNTalks intensify in Washington to end DHS shutdown as airport delays mount nationwide | CNN Politics
The GuardianBill to fund US homeland security fails again as concern grows about airport lines
CBS NewsSenate fails to advance DHS funding bill for 5th time, with no deal in sight
Overview
The Senate again failed to advance a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security in a 47-to-37 vote that fell short of the 60 votes needed, with 16 senators not voting and Sen. John Fetterman voting with Republicans.
DHS has been shut down since Feb. 14, and travelers face long airport lines as unpaid TSA officers call off work or quit, and a TSA official warned that airports could be shut.
Tom Homan met a bipartisan group as Democrats demanded judicial warrants for home entries, visible identification and limits on civil enforcement, while the White House proposed expanded body cameras and limited enforcement at sensitive sites.
It was the fifth Senate attempt since Feb. 12 to advance DHS funding, and the shutdown reached its 35th day as senators warned the impasse could keep colleagues in Washington.
John Thune said deal space is emerging, Susan Collins called the White House offer "very fair, reasonable," and Chuck Schumer said he will seek a separate TSA funding vote Saturday.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the shutdown as constrained progress with practical consequences, using evaluative language and selective emphasis. Editorial choices highlight "a small sign of progress" and airport strains while juxtaposing competing quotes. By foregrounding worker hardship, procedural demands, and negotiation urgency, sources steer readers toward bipartisan resolution as central.
FAQ
DHS funding expired on February 14, 2026, leading to a partial government shutdown as Congress failed to pass appropriations amid disputes over immigration enforcement policies between Democrats and the White House.[2]
Travelers face long airport screening delays as unpaid TSA officers call off work or quit, with a TSA official warning that airports could shut down.[1]
Democrats demand judicial warrants for home entries, visible identification for agents, no masks, and limits on civil enforcement.[1]
The White House proposed five policy points including expanded body cameras and limited enforcement at sensitive sites to address Democratic concerns.[1]
The Senate failed for the fifth time on March 21, 2026, with a 47-37 vote short of the 60 needed; Schumer plans a separate TSA funding vote on Saturday.[3]