The Brian Lehrer Show Friday Morning Politics: DHS Funding Stalemate Likely Over
Mar 27, 2026
Mary Clare Jalonick, AP congressional reporter and author of Storm at the Capitol, and Evan McMorris-Santoro, national politics reporter and newsletter writer, break down the Senate DHS funding vote and what it actually covers. They discuss looming House action, TSA staffing and airport chaos, the SAVE Act’s voter ID push, and the political calculations shaping the next moves.
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Senate Funds TSA But Leaves ICE Unresolved
- The Senate passed a package funding key DHS elements like TSA, Coast Guard, and FEMA while excluding ICE and border control funding.
- That split lets Republicans defuse airport chaos short-term while leaving immigration enforcement fights for later reconciliation or House action.
Executive Order To Pay TSA Is Murky Fallback
- An executive order to pay TSA was floated by President Trump as a fallback if Congress failed to act, but details and funding sources remained unclear.
- Senate Republicans claimed they found money for a potential EO, prompting Democratic questions about timing.
House Dynamics Decide Whether Funding Clears
- House passage is the immediate obstacle because Republicans hold a narrow, fractious majority and many members resist quick Friday action.
- That intra-party split makes the House the center of uncertainty despite the Senate deal.
