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The Department of Homeland Security funding lapse officially became the longest partial government shutdown in United States history this Sunday, reaching its 44th day. This duration surpasses the previous record established during the funding lapse that occurred from October to mid-November. While the rest of the federal government remains funded, the standoff over DHS has led to operational challenges, particularly within the Transportation Security Administration. Travelers are facing security lines that last for hours due to hundreds of TSA officer resignations and thousands of call-outs as employees have worked without pay since February 14th. Legislatively, the situation remains stalled. House Republicans passed a short-term funding measure on Friday, but it lacks support in the Senate where a 60-vote threshold is required. Speaker Mike Johnson rejected a Senate proposal to fund the department without specific allocations for ICE and Customs and Border Protection. Although President Donald Trump signed an executive order to resume TSA paychecks by Monday, both chambers of Congress have entered a recess period, delaying further negotiations until mid-April.
As of Sunday, March 29th, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security funding lapse has reached 44 days, marking the longest partial government shutdown in United States history. The record-breaking standoff, which began on February 14th, continues even as all other federal departments remain fully funded. The impacts are most visible at national airports, where TSA staffing shortages have led to security delays lasting several hours. Hundreds of officers have resigned and thousands have called out after missing paychecks for six weeks. While President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to ensure TSA workers receive pay starting Monday, the legislative gridlock persists. Speaker Mike Johnson has rejected Senate funding proposals, and with Congress entering a recess until mid-April, no permanent resolution is expected for at least two more weeks.
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[00:00] Thatcher Collins: We are following breaking news. From Neural Newscast, I'm Thatcher Collins.
[00:05] Margaret Ellis: And I'm Margaret Ellis.
[00:07] Thatcher Collins: The Department of Homeland Security funding lapse reached 44 days this Sunday,
[00:12] Thatcher Collins: marking the longest partial government shutdown in United States history.
[00:17] Thatcher Collins: This duration exceeds the record set when the department and other federal agencies lacked funding
[00:23] Thatcher Collins: from October to mid-November.
[00:25] Thatcher Collins: While the rest of the federal government is currently funded, the DHS standoff continues.
[00:31] Margaret Ellis: This lapse began on February 14th.
[00:35] Margaret Ellis: Primary documents show a focus on immigration enforcement operations,
[00:40] Margaret Ellis: and we are seeing continuity in pay for ICE agents
[00:44] Margaret Ellis: because they draw on funding from the one big beautiful bill signed last year.
[00:50] Margaret Ellis: However, TSA officers have worked without pay for six weeks.
[00:55] Margaret Ellis: Some ICE agents are now stationed at airports to assist with operations.
[01:01] Thatcher Collins: TSA staffing shortages have resulted in security lines at airports lasting for hours.
[01:06] Thatcher Collins: Hundreds of officers have resigned and thousands have called out of work during the standoff.
[01:12] Thatcher Collins: On Friday, House Republicans passed a short-term funding bill, but it has no path in the Senate.
[01:19] Thatcher Collins: Speaker Mike Johnson rejected a bipartisan Senate bill that funded DHS while excluding ICE and Customs and Border Protection.
[01:27] Margaret Ellis: Factual records of the legislative process showed the Senate tried and failed to advance a similar bill multiple times.
[01:36] Margaret Ellis: The proposal fell short of the 60-vote threshold required for advancement.
[01:42] Margaret Ellis: Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority, which necessitates support from Democrats
[01:49] Margaret Ellis: for any funding measure to move forward.
[01:52] Thatcher Collins: President Trump signed an order on Friday to pay TSA workers, and a DHS spokesperson says
[01:58] Thatcher Collins: paychecks are expected to arrive Monday. However, both the House and Senate are now in recess.
[02:05] Thatcher Collins: The Senate returns April 13th, and the House is scheduled to return on April 14th.
[02:10] Thatcher Collins: No further negotiations are expected until mid-month.
[02:14] Margaret Ellis: We will continue to monitor the impact on national infrastructure and federal personnel throughout the recess period.
[02:22] Thatcher Collins: From Neural Newscast, I'm Thatcher Collins.
[02:25] Margaret Ellis: And I'm Margaret Ellis.
[02:27] Margaret Ellis: Neural Newscast is AI-assisted, human-reviewed.
[02:31] Margaret Ellis: View our AI transparency policy at neuralnewscast.com.