Republicans Step Up Efforts to Reach DHS Funding Deal and End Shutdown

New York Times
by Michael Gold
March 24, 2026
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Senate Republicans proposed separating ICE funding from the DHS budget to resolve the government shutdown, despite Trump's stated opposition to compromise.

AI Summary

Senate Republicans have proposed a plan to resolve the government shutdown by separating Immigration and Customs Enforcement funding from the rest of the Department of Homeland Security budget, according to the proposal sent to Democrats. The move comes one day after President Trump stated he did not want a compromise, creating tension within the Republican party over shutdown strategy. By breaking ICE enforcement into its own funding measure, Republicans hope to advance a partial reopening of DHS while negotiations continue on the agency's most contentious element. The proposal suggests GOP senators are seeking a path forward despite Trump's public opposition to deal-making, signaling internal disagreement over how to end the shutdown.

What's Being Done

Senate Republicans have sent a proposal to Democrats to break ICE enforcement into its own funding measure while negotiations continue on other DHS elements.

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