IC Oversight & Authorities — 2026-04-05

DHS Shutdown Day 50: Senate Passes Funding Deal but House Delays Vote, Extending CISA Staffing Crisis Through Weekend

The Senate unanimously passed a DHS funding bill on April 4 as the shutdown reached nearly 50 days, but the House did not take it up during its pro forma session, extending the crisis through the weekend. Speaker Johnson reversed his earlier rejection of the Senate deal, accepting the two-track approach that would fund most of DHS through regular appropriations while addressing ICE and CBP through reconciliation. CISA remains at roughly 40% staffing with 800 excepted employees working without pay, risk assessments halted, and accumulating vulnerabilities across critical infrastructure. Senate Republicans separately blocked a standalone bill from Senator Kim to fund CISA while broader negotiations continue.

Analysis
The Senate unanimously passing the DHS deal while the House delayed moves the timeline past the weekend, extending CISA's staffing crisis to at least day 52. The separate blocking of a standalone CISA funding bill indicates this is a deliberate leverage strategy, not legislative neglect; CISA cybersecurity capacity is being used as a pressure point in the broader immigration funding fight.

2 sources

DHS funding deal heads to House as shutdown reaches nearly 50 days - LocalNewsLive
Mike Johnson caves on Senates DHS deal, paving way to end shutdown - MS Now