The US Senate passed funding overnight for much of the Department of Homeland Security, except for controversial ICE and Customs and Border Patrol operations. Final action is now up to the House. KHJ News Washington DC correspondent Matt Kaye reports…
The early morning Senate vote with only a handful of senators on the floor followed weeks of failed negotiations over limits on ICE and CBP agents after two civilian deaths in Minnesota.
But long waits to clear TSA checkpoints at airports and a two-week Easter recess starting next week forced the Senate vote without either party making concessions on ICE and CBP operations.
It also followed President Trump’s plan to order that TSA agents get paid after missing several paychecks.
FEMA, the Coast Guard, Cyber Security and some customs and border patrol functions are also funded.
The question now is whether the House with its razor thin GOP majority will follow suit and pass the Senate bill.
House Republicans called a recess to consider their.. next actions.
Democrats were still demanding that agents get rid of masks and obtain judicial, not administrative warrants, conditions Republicans called “non-starters.”
That, even as the White House had agreed that agents wear IDs, not make apprehensions near hospitals or schools and get more training.
The DHS shutdown now over 40-days has had far reaching implications, including for agency operations affecting American Samoa.
While essential personnel have had to work, many TSA agents have either called in sick or quit.
Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata warned early on of “airport delays.” And those have plagued many airports across the nation.
