U.S. House Ends DHS Shutdown, Resolves TSA Pay Crisis Amid Airport Chaos
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), after weeks of opposition. This decision comes after a warning from the White House that TSA airport security screeners were on the verge of going unpaid, which would have caused significant disruptions in air travel. The funding lapse, which began on February 14, led to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, lasting 76 days. The bill, which had already been approved by the Senate, was sent to President Trump for signature. The legislation funds 20 of the 22 DHS agencies, excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and parts of Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The House's reversal was influenced by the potential for severe airport disruptions, as unpaid TSA officers were not reporting to work, leading to long security lines.