House takes step toward funding Homeland Security as White House warns money will ‘soon run out’

The House took a crucial step Wednesday toward funding the Department of Homeland Security, adopting a budget resolution that could unlock broader bipartisan funding for TSA agents and other agency personnel. The move comes as the White House warned that money to pay transportation security workers will "soon run out" if Congress fails to act.

Homeland Security has been operating without regular funding for more than two months, making this the longest agency shutdown in history. More than 1,000 TSA officers have quit since the shutdown began, and the agency's secretary warned that salaries topping $1.6 billion every two weeks are draining emergency funds.

The partisan dispute centers on immigration enforcement: Republicans want to fund ICE and Border Patrol through the remainder of Trump's term, while Democrats are demanding reforms to those operations following the deaths of Americans protesting the deportation agenda. The budget resolution adopted Wednesday focuses on eventually providing $70 billion for immigration enforcement.

A bipartisan bill to fund TSA and other non-immigration Homeland Security functions is expected to come to a vote Thursday. Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledged the slow pace but expressed confidence: "It takes time. We will get there."

What This Means For You: If you fly, this directly affects your safety. TSA staffing shortages already mean longer lines and fewer screeners. If Congress doesn't fund DHS this week, airport disruptions become real. The immigration fight matters, but the immediate risk is to everyday travelers and the 240,000 federal workers caught in the middle.