Congress Passes DHS Funding Bill, Avoiding Shutdown

0:00Congress just wrapped up a messy funding fight for the Department of Homeland Security, passing a bill Thursday that covers nearly every agency there for the next five months. The House approved it by voice-fold after the Senate gave it unanimous backing weeks earlier, sending it straight to President Trump. This finally ends the latest shutdown they kicked off in mid-February, putting paychecks back on track for workers at places like FEMA and TSA. Here this fall, lawmakers blew past their October 1 deadline for the full year's funding, sparking three shutdowns total. The first one dragged on for 43 days over health care credits, then a quick four-day partial halt in early February, and finally, this third. Round starting February 14th when talks stalled on immigration enforcement. Democrats pushed hard for limits on federal immigration agents after two U.S. citizens got killed by officers in Minneapolis back in January, calling. Out Republicans for stonewalling negotiations.

1:00On the flip side, Texas Rep. Chip Roy blasted the move to split off funding for ICM Border Patrol as straight up offensive to those frontline folks, battling cartels and border threats. Now Republicans are pivoting to the budget reconciliation process, unlocked by a fresh house boat this week, to pump up to $140 billion. Dollars into ICM Border Patrol for the rest of Trump's term, no Democrat buy-in needed. When at GOP, Greenlit the Blueprint earlier this month dodging filibuster fights. With the fiscal year clock ticking toward October 1st, Congress still got a sort funding for everything else, and any snag could trigger another. Shut down right before midterms, keeping the drama rolling. Anchorage News today, powered by AI bringing you what matters. I'm Cory with the story.