After a late night of negotiations, in the wee hours of this morning the Senate passed by voice vote a modified version of a bill (HR 7147) that would fund all of the Department of Homeland Security, with the exception of ICE and Customs Enforcement. Majority Leader Thune (R-SD) said Democrats won none of the policy changes they had sought to immigration enforcement practices that had triggered the partial shutdown. He suggested Republicans were likely to seek funding for ICE and CBP through a second reconciliation package. (As a reminder, reconciliation is a unique legislative process that can pass both Congressional chambers with a simple majority.) Democrats had said for weeks they were willing to fund almost all of the department except for the immigration agencies as they continued to fight for more restrictions on federal agents in the wake of the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota earlier this year. The House is expected to take up the Senate passed bill this morning.

On the fiscal year (FY) 2027 funding front, the House Dear Colleague letter was completed for STI funding earlier this week. Led by Representatives Sewell (D-AL) and Crockett (D-TX), 51 members of the House of Representatives signed this letter, which is a way to note to the Members of the Appropriations Committee support for funding during the appropriations process. Thank you to all who signed and the staffs in in Rep. Sewell and Rep. Crockett’s offices and Bettilou Taylor who made it happen!

While this is “out of order” of “regular” appropriations “process” (that’s a lot of air quotes…), it is rumored that the President will submit his FY2027 funding proposal to Congress next week. We shall see if it is a “skinny” budget or a more detailed proposal. If it is released in time, we hope to cover this in next week’s PriorityONE briefing on Thursday, April 2 at 12:00-12:30 pm ET.