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The Department of Homeland Security funding lapse has reached a historic 44-day milestone, making it the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history. While President Trump has signed an order to pay TSA workers despite the deadlock, airport staffing remains critical. Simultaneously, French authorities have thwarted a suspected terrorist bombing at a Bank of America branch in Paris, detaining one suspect after an overnight intervention. This episode covers the legislative paralysis in Washington and the heightened security environment in Europe following the thwarting of the 8th arrondissement attack.
The Department of Homeland Security funding lapse has officially become the longest partial government shutdown in United States history, entering its 44th day this Sunday. As the standoff between House Republicans and the Senate continues, travelers face significant delays at airports due to critical TSA staffing shortages and high call-out rates. In a separate developing story, French police in Paris have successfully thwarted a suspected terrorist attack outside a Bank of America branch in the city's 8th arrondissement. One individual is in custody after being caught attempting to ignite an explosive device, while another suspect remains at large. These events occur against a backdrop of heightened international tension and domestic political gridlock, with French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez emphasizing a state of high vigilance following the outbreak of regional war in the Middle East.
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[00:00] Richard Lawson: We're following breaking news from Neural Newscast. I'm Richard Lawson.
[00:04] Vanessa Calderon: And I'm Vanessa Calderon. We are tracking a historic milestone in Washington and a major security
[00:12] Richard Lawson: intervention in Europe. The funding lapse at the Department of Homeland Security has crossed
[00:17] Richard Lawson: into record-breaking territory. As of Sunday, March 29th, the DHS shutdown has lasted 44 days.
[00:25] Richard Lawson: This officially surpasses the previous record for the longest partial government shutdown in United States history, which occurred late last year.
[00:34] Richard Lawson: Unlike that previous lapse, other federal agencies are currently funded, leaving DHS as the sole department caught in this legislative standoff.
[00:43] Vanessa Calderon: Vanessa, the situation at airports is where people are really feeling it.
[00:48] Vanessa Calderon: TSA officers have been working without pay for weeks,
[00:51] Vanessa Calderon: which has led to hundreds of resignations and thousands of call-outs
[00:55] Vanessa Calderon: Even though President Trump signed an order on Friday to get those paychecks moving by tomorrow, staffing shortages are still causing security lines that stretch for hours.
[01:05] Vanessa Calderon: Travelers are essentially caught in the middle of a massive game of political chicken.
[01:10] Richard Lawson: The political path forward remains blocked. House Republicans passed a short-term funding bill on Friday, but Senate leadership has already labeled it a non-starter.
[01:20] Richard Lawson: This followed a Senate attempt to fund all of DHS except for immigration enforcement agencies,
[01:26] Richard Lawson: a move Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed as a joke.
[01:29] Richard Lawson: Democrats are refusing to move forward without specific guardrails on how immigration operations are handled.
[01:35] Richard Lawson: With both chambers of Congress out of town until mid-April, no immediate resolution is expected.
[01:41] Vanessa Calderon: What's notable is that while TSA is struggling, ICE agents are actually doing fine.
[01:47] Vanessa Calderon: They're getting paid because they are drawing from the one big beautiful bill signed last year.
[01:52] Vanessa Calderon: Some of those agents are even being sent to airports to help fill the gaps left by the TSA shortages.
[01:59] Vanessa Calderon: It's a temporary fix for a much bigger problem that isn't going away while the House and Senate are on vacation.
[02:06] Richard Lawson: Turning to international security, French authorities announced Saturday that police thwarted a suspected bomb attack overnight in Paris.
[02:14] Richard Lawson: According to the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office, two suspects were spotted near a Bank of America building in the 8th arrondissement.
[02:23] Richard Lawson: When police intervened, they found the suspects in possession of a shopping bag containing an incendiary or explosive device.
[02:31] Richard Lawson: One suspect was detained at the scene, while the other managed to escape.
[02:35] Vanessa Calderon: Police say one of the individuals was holding a lighter and trying to ignite the device when they moved in.
[02:41] Vanessa Calderon: It was a very close call.
[02:43] Vanessa Calderon: The Interior Minister, Lawrence Nunes, credited a rapid intervention unit for stopping what he called a violent act of a terrorist nature.
[02:52] Vanessa Calderon: Right now, there is a massive investigation into attempted damage by fire and involvement in a terrorist criminal association.
[03:00] Vanessa Calderon: They're still hunting for the second person who got away.
[03:03] Richard Lawson: This incident follows a directive from earlier this week to increase protection around sites linked to United States interests and the Jewish community.
[03:14] Richard Lawson: Minister Nunez noted that French intelligence is maintaining a very high level of vigilance
[03:20] Richard Lawson: due to the current international context, specifically the outbreak of the Iran War.
[03:26] Richard Lawson: Security has also been stepped up for figures within the Iranian opposition living in France
[03:32] Richard Lawson: as authorities monitor potential retaliatory threats.
[03:36] Richard Lawson: That is the latest from the newsroom. I'm Richard Lawson.
[03:40] Vanessa Calderon: And I'm Vanessa Calderon. Neural Newscast is AI-assisted, human-reviewed.
[03:46] Vanessa Calderon: View our AI transparency policy at neuralnewscast.com.