The US House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday to fund much of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), bringing an end to the longest shutdown in the agency's history. The passage of the bill, however, excludes funding for immigration enforcement operations. Speaker Mike Johnson navigated a narrow Republican majority that has been plagued by internal disputes.
The House's approval comes after the Senate unanimously passed the bipartisan package a month prior, but it had been stalled in the House. The White House had issued warnings that temporary funding used to pay Transportation Security Administration personnel was running out, raising concerns about potential airport disruptions.
The passage of the DHS funding bill marks a significant step, even as divisions persist within the House Republican conference. Johnson told reporters that lawmaking can be messy, but assured that they would "get it done". The House ultimately approved the surveillance bill and the budget blueprint. The turbulent process underscores the challenges facing the Republican conference as they aim to secure policy wins with a narrow majority heading into the November elections.
