Congress Passes DHS Funding Bill, Ends Partial Shutdown

The US Congress passed a funding bill to restart Department of Homeland Security operations and end a partial government shutdown that had left many federal workers without pay for weeks. The House approved the measure, sending it forward to resolve the funding gap that had stalled DHS operations. The bill notably excludes Immigration and Customs Enforcement from its funding provisions, a detail that signals the political compromises made to get the legislation through. Federal workers affected by the shutdown will now be able to receive pay, and DHS agencies covered by the bill can resume normal operations. The ICE carve-out is worth watching: it leaves that agency's funding unresolved, which could trigger a fresh standoff in the near term. Congress will likely need to return to the ICE funding question separately, keeping immigration enforcement budgets an open political flashpoint.