Episode Overview

Title: The Senate DHS funding deal fell apart. Now what?
Date: March 30, 2026
Hosts: Ashley Lopez, Sam Greenglass, Mara Liasson
Podcast: The NPR Politics Podcast

In this episode, the NPR Politics team dives into the latest collapse of a Senate deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), explores why negotiations fell apart once the compromise reached the House, and discusses the political fallout amid another partial government shutdown. The conversation also highlights President Trump’s executive action to mitigate the visible pain of the shutdown and considers the implications for both parties, the traveling public, and upcoming elections.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Senate DHS Funding Deal: What Was on the Table?

• Senate Compromise:
  • The deal reached in the Senate would fund almost all of DHS, including FEMA and the Coast Guard.
  • Notably, the deal excluded new funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol due to Democratic opposition following the Minneapolis shootings by federal immigration officers.
  • Sam Greenglass [00:50]:

    “This is something that Democrats had been refusing to fund after the shootings of those two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis by federal immigration officers. And Republicans had pushed back on not funding DHS fully.”

  • Reforms: No ICE reforms were included; only a freeze on new funding for ICE and Border Patrol.
    • Sam Greenglass [01:36]:

      “Nothing. This deal included none of the policy changes that Democrats had been pushing for… What Democrats did get out of this is no new funding for ICE and for Border Patrol, but no policy changes specifically.”

2. Collapse in the House: Why the Deal Fell Apart

• House Republican Opposition:
  • Conservatives in the House demanded inclusion of the Save America Act (a voting law overhaul), a Trump-backed priority not present in the Senate deal.
  • House Republicans offered a 60-day DHS funding extension, with ICE and Border Patrol funded—unacceptable to Senate Democrats.
  • Sam Greenglass [01:54]:

    “It became apparent that House Republicans were not going to be behind this deal… And so instead, House Republicans said they were gonna put forward a 60 day extension of DHS funding that would include money for ICE and Customs and Border Protection.”

3. Tangible Effects of the Shutdown

• Travel Disruption:
  • TSA workers are unpaid, leading to sick-outs, resignations, and record-long airport security lines—one of the most visible impacts of the shutdown.
  • Ashley Lopez [02:49]:

    “The main way in which the general public has been feeling the effects of this shutdown is by those record long lines at airport security lines.”

4. President Trump's Emergency Fix

• Trump's Executive Action:
  • Trump issued a presidential memorandum declaring an emergency to pay TSA agents using already-appropriated DHS funds (“the one big, beautiful bill”).
  • This action aims to restore TSA pay and—if successful—quickly eliminate airport delays, reducing public pressure on Congress.
  • Mara Liasson [03:15]:

    “Donald Trump issued what's called a presidential memorandum… That allows him to order the TSA agents to be paid… So if that goes through… the TSA agents will start getting paid. The lines should disappear. If they do, that certainly takes away one of the biggest political pressure points for Congress.”

• Legal Questions:
  • Little likelihood of a court challenge, as DHS already has substantial funds.
  • ICE and Border Patrol functions have continued largely unaffected due to existing funds.
  • Sam Greenglass [04:37]:

    “Even though DHS is without funding for this fiscal year, they have tons of money to work with. So ICE has been able to continue their duties throughout all of this… And so, you know, even as Democrats try and withhold money for ICE, it's not really doing much to prevent ICE agents from doing their job.”

5. Political Dynamics and Stalemate

• Stalemate:
  • Neither side got what it wanted—no policy concessions for Democrats, no Save America Act for Republicans.
  • With airport lines likely to normalize, Congress likely feels less urgency to resolve the shutdown.
  • Mara Liasson [04:59]:

    “The bottom line, though, politically, is that Democrats did not get the reforms in ICE they wanted, and Republicans didn't get the SAVE act… So both parties end up without meeting their political goals. Voters are even more cynical and disgusted with the dysfunction of Congress.”

• Leadership Gaps:
  • Despite GOP control of Congress and the White House, leadership is fractured.
  • Trump is disengaged from compromise efforts and dismissive of all pending deals.
  • Mara Liasson [07:12]:

    “President Trump is really not invested in doing what past presidents have done… He didn't seem interested in doing that.”

  • Donald Trump, quoted [07:46]:

    “I don't want to comment until I see the deal… I think any deal they make, I'm pretty much not happy with it.”

6. Intra-Party Divisions

• Republicans Split:
  • The main partisan disagreement now is GOP House vs. GOP Senate, rather than Republicans vs. Democrats.
  • Sam Greenglass [08:27]:

    “Republicans in this Congress have really taken their cues from President Trump… in the absence of that, that opens up the space for disagreement between the House and the Senate.”

7. Who Gets the Blame? Public Perceptions

• Diffuse Blame:
  • Historically, the ruling party gets blamed. But with widespread cynicism, little lasting political harm is expected for either side.
  • Mara Liasson [09:04]:

    “I don't see either party getting more blame or credit for this mess. I really don't. I think when lines go away at the airports… this is gonna just recede from voters’ memories.”

• Voter Fatigue:
  • With several major events crowding the political calendar, most voters may forget the shutdown before the midterms.
  • Sam Greenglass [09:36]:

    “We were asking voters who they blamed for that record long shutdown. And I think it's pretty likely that a lot of those people don't even remember that shutdown at this point.”

8. The Fate of ICE Reforms

• Democrats' Position Weakening:
  • As time passes, Democrats may lose leverage—especially as the controversy over the Minneapolis shootings fades from the public eye.
  • The three key ICE reforms Democrats want:
    • No more masks for ICE agents
    • Judicial warrants for entry
    • Body cameras for ICE officers
  • Mara Liasson [11:13]:

    “…the top three reforms are are no more masks worn by ICE agents, judicial warrants before they go into somebody's home and body cameras.”

• Partial Republican Openness:
  • The White House is open to some, but not all, reforms (body cameras, sensitive locations), blocking non-negotiables (judicial warrants, mask bans).
  • Sam Greenglass [11:44]:

    “The White House has indicated some openness to some of these policy changes... But the White House has really pushed back on other changes... Democrats had really yet to convince Republicans in the White House to come on board.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Congressional Dysfunction:

  “I really think that it kind of illustrates how dysfunctional Washington has become.”
  — Mara Liasson [07:12]

• On Trump’s Lack of Engagement:

  “I think any deal they make, I'm pretty much not happy with it.”
  — Donald Trump [07:46]

• On Public Cynicism:

  “Voters are even more cynical and disgusted with the dysfunction of Congress. But maybe in the end they won't have to stand in a long line at an airport.”
  — Mara Liasson [04:59]

• On Voter Short Memory:

  “I think it's pretty likely that a lot of those people don't even remember that shutdown at this point.”
  — Sam Greenglass [09:36]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Senate deal details and limits: 00:50–01:51
• Why the House rejected the deal: 01:54–02:48
• Airport lines and public impact: 02:49–03:15
• Trump’s emergency fix: 03:15–04:17
• Political stalemate after Trump action: 04:17–05:30
• Why GOP leadership is fractured: 06:57–08:20
• Intra-GOP fights and blame game: 08:20–10:11
• ICE reform details and party stances: 10:49–12:41

Summary Table: ICE Reform Demands

| Reform | Supported by GOP/WH? | Stance in Negotiations | |--------------------|-----------------------------|----------------------------------| | Body cameras | Some openness | WH open, but not agreed | | No mask policy | GOP opposes | Seen as non-negotiable by Dems | | Judicial warrants | GOP/WH oppose | No progress | | Sensitive location limits | Some openness | WH potentially open |

Takeaways

• The Senate’s compromise to fund DHS without ICE/Border Patrol funding collapsed in the House due to GOP demands for the Save America Act and enforcement funding.
• President Trump’s move to pay TSA agents aims to neutralize public outrage but reduces leverage for a legislative resolution.
• Both parties leave the fight empty-handed, with little sign voters will penalize either side—especially as news cycles move on.
• Democrats’ push for ICE reform is losing traction as the shutdown drags on and public interest fades.
• Washington’s current dysfunction is laid bare, even with unified government—largely due to President Trump’s disengagement from dealmaking.

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