Thune lays out next steps after Trump's move to restore TSA pay
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Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks during a news briefing at the U.S. Capitol on March 24. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told Republican senators Thursday night that they need to "work together to ensure that DHS, including ICE and Border Patrol, is funded in a sustainable manner for the rest of the year."
Why it matters: Thune (R-S.D.) appears to be holding out hope that he can fund the rest of DHS through the traditional appropriations process "so that we can then focus our reconciliation efforts on ICE and the Border Patrol," according to an email Thune sent to Senate offices.
- The guidance follows President Trump's unilateral bid to try to end the government shutdown affecting TSA workers by directing his new Homeland Security secretary to "immediately pay our TSA Agents."
- "I've asked Susan [Collins, Appropriations Committee chair] to draft the text to fund as many portions of DHS as we can. We will hotline that resolution soon, and I hope we can clear that bill by UC. [Unanimous consent]," Thune wrote.
- "This is not the outcome that we wanted, but unfortunately, Democrats have shown themselves unwilling to support law enforcement," he added.
Democrats were unwilling to budge on their demands for ICE reforms — and new restrictions on Big Beautiful Bill Act spending — in exchange for funding the Department of Homeland Security, which has been shut down for 40 days.
- "The Radical Left Democrats, and their 'Leader,' Cryin' Chuck Schumer, have made it very clear where they stand, and that is, ON THE SIDE OF CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS, AND NOT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE," Trump said on Truth Social.
State of play: It's unclear if either party can resurrect the negotiations to fund the rest of the Department of Homeland Security.
- "We've got three other agencies to deal with," Sen. Angus King (I-Maine), said.
- Republicans also seemed to indicate that FEMA, the Coast Guard and other DHS agencies and departments could get funded via traditional appropriations.
- But the TSA — and the long lines at airports — were always the linchpin to any deal.
Zoom out: Republicans have a high-risk fallback plan: funding the entire department through a reconciliation bill that would require only a simple majority in the Senate.
- But any reconciliation bill — which could include up to $200 billion for the Pentagon tied to Iran, as well as the SAVE America Act — faces a perilous path in both chambers, especially in the House, where margins are thin.
Go deeper: Trump to sidestep Congress, pay TSA workers
