Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Monday that the House will not take up the Senate’s stop-gap bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security through 2027 without changes, despite an escalating partial shutdown that began in February. The Senate legislation, passed twice by unanimous consent, intentionally excluded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol, leaving those agencies to be covered by a separate $70 billion reconciliation package that cleared the upper chamber last week. Hard-line House Republicans argue the carve-out would “orphan the primary agencies of DHS.” Johnson said a “modified version” would soon be introduced, setting the stage for a ping-pong that could push final agreement into May. Because altered text must return to the Senate—and because most spending bills need 60 votes—the standoff risks extending furloughs at DHS components ranging from the Secret Service to TSA. For global mobility managers, the funding delay matters in two ways. First, thousands of USCIS contractors who print green cards and work permits are funded through the same discretionary accounts and face renewed payment gaps. Second, any new ICE budget will embed enforcement priorities that affect worksite audits, Form I-9 inspections, and detention capacity—all key compliance variables for multinational employers.
![House GOP Says It Will Rewrite Senate DHS Bill—Delaying Funds for ICE and Border Patrol]()
At times like these, specialized visa and passport assistance can soften the blow for travelers and corporate mobility teams. VisaHQ, for example, keeps real-time tabs on agency slowdowns and can reroute filings through consulates or arrange emergency travel documents when domestic channels stall. Its online dashboard (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) lets users track every application and receive instant alerts when DHS or State Department guidance shifts—providing a welcome buffer against the uncertainties created by this budget impasse.
The business travel sector is watching closely. TSA’s overtime account is nearly depleted, and the agency warns of potential lane closures at major hubs within two weeks. Past shutdowns led to 90-minute wait times at Atlanta and Dallas/Fort Worth, costing airlines millions in missed connections. A prolonged fight could again ripple through summer capacity planning. Democrats accuse the GOP of hostage-taking, while Majority Leader John Thune insists the two-bill strategy ultimately secures full DHS funding. Mobility stakeholders should expect at least one more continuing resolution, and build contingency budgets for premium-processing slowdowns and possible checkpoint disruptions.
At times like these, specialized visa and passport assistance can soften the blow for travelers and corporate mobility teams. VisaHQ, for example, keeps real-time tabs on agency slowdowns and can reroute filings through consulates or arrange emergency travel documents when domestic channels stall. Its online dashboard (https://www.visahq.com/united-states/) lets users track every application and receive instant alerts when DHS or State Department guidance shifts—providing a welcome buffer against the uncertainties created by this budget impasse.
The business travel sector is watching closely. TSA’s overtime account is nearly depleted, and the agency warns of potential lane closures at major hubs within two weeks. Past shutdowns led to 90-minute wait times at Atlanta and Dallas/Fort Worth, costing airlines millions in missed connections. A prolonged fight could again ripple through summer capacity planning. Democrats accuse the GOP of hostage-taking, while Majority Leader John Thune insists the two-bill strategy ultimately secures full DHS funding. Mobility stakeholders should expect at least one more continuing resolution, and build contingency budgets for premium-processing slowdowns and possible checkpoint disruptions.
