GOP Pushes Through DHS Funding, Skipping Immigration Enforcement

0:00On April 1st, Republican leaders in Congress just struck a deal to push through funding for most of the Department of Homeland Security operations. Skipping the parts tied to immigration enforcement, this could wrap up the longest partial government shut down in U.S. history, which hit hard last month. TSA workers, part of DHS, went unpaid for weeks, leading to massive lines and hours long waits at airports as folks quit or called out sick. Things got better earlier this week when President Trump signed an order to get them their paychecks. Democrats blocked full funding back in January after immigration agents killed two U.S. citizens during raids in Minneapolis. They demanded new rules, like no masks for agents and warrants before home entries, but got none of that in this deal. Now, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune are ditching a short term 60-day funding push and going with a Senate bill. That passed unanimously last week. For immigration enforcement, like ICE, they're using a budget trick called reconciliation

1:04to fund it with just Republican votes. Heads up. Both chambers are in recess through next week, but they plan ceremonial sessions Thursday morning to maybe seal this past. It's a win for border security fans, though Democrats call it GOP chaos, and tougher talks loom on that bigger reconciliation package.