By Trendsetter Tribune 
After 39 days of a partial government shutdown that has paralyzed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), top Senate Republicans are coalescing behind a new legislative framework. As of Tuesday, March 24, 2026, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and key negotiators like Senator Katie Britt (R-AL) are moving toward a strategy designed to decouple the most contentious immigration issues from the broader funding of the department.
This pivot comes as “nightmarish” lines at U.S. airports and the deployment of untrained ICE agents to assist TSA have reached a breaking point for the traveling public.
The New Framework: The “Bifurcated” Funding Plan
The emerging deal, which gained momentum following a late-night White House meeting on Monday, involves splitting DHS funding into two distinct tracks:
- Track One: Bipartisan Funding (DHS minus ICE): Congress would move a bill to immediately fund the “non-controversial” agencies within DHS, including the TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA, and CISA. This would ensure that roughly 200,000 federal employees—many of whom have been working without pay since February 14—receive their paychecks and that airport security operations stabilize.
- Track Two: The Reconciliation Route (ICE & SAVE Act): To satisfy the President and hardline conservatives, Republicans plan to move funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and elements of the SAVE America Act (voter ID/citizenship verification) through a party-line budget reconciliation bill. This maneuver avoids the 60-vote filibuster, allowing Republicans to pass these priorities without Democratic support.
The “Trump Factor” and Potential Roadblocks
While Senate GOP leadership is optimistic, the plan faces significant hurdles from both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue:
- The President’s Demand: On Sunday night, President Trump initially rejected the “punt” on ICE funding, taking to Truth Social to demand that Republicans make “no deal” unless the SAVE America Act is passed in its entirety. However, by Tuesday morning, a “noticeably upbeat” group of senators suggested the President might accept the reconciliation strategy as a way to “land the plane” before the scheduled two-week recess.
- Democratic Resistance: Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Patty Murray (D-WA), have expressed cautious interest in funding TSA and FEMA but remain adamantly opposed to the SAVE Act. They continue to demand “guardrails” and oversight of ICE following the fatal shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis earlier this year.
- The Parliamentarian: A major technical hurdle exists for the SAVE Act; it remains unclear if the Senate Parliamentarian will rule that voter ID provisions have a direct enough “budgetary impact” to qualify for the reconciliation process.
Key Players in the Shutdown Resolution
| Senator/Official | Role | Current Stance |
| John Thune (R-SD) | Majority Leader | Pushing the “split-funding” reconciliation model. |
| Katie Britt (R-AL) | Lead Negotiator | Working “through the night” to finalize legislative text. |
| Markwayne Mullin | DHS Secretary | Newly confirmed; managing the deployment of ICE to airports. |
| John Cornyn (R-TX) | Senior Republican | Supporting the plan to insulate the GOP from “shutdown blame” in his runoff. |
| Tom Homan | Border Czar | Acting as the primary liaison between the White House and GOP leadership. |
Impact of the Delay: 39 Days of Dysfunction
The shutdown has caused more than just political theater; the operational costs are mounting:
- Staffing Crisis: Over 300 TSA officers have resigned since the shutdown began, and “sick-outs” have caused 3-hour wait times at major hubs like Austin and Atlanta.
- Economic Toll: The travel industry estimated a loss of $1.2 billion in economic activity during the first month of the DHS lapse.