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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) issued the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 8029, the Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act. This marks the third time that the House has passed a bipartisan funding package to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). 

“The House has taken bipartisan action three times to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security. The same cannot be said for Senate Democrats, who continue to shift the goalpost and refuse to negotiate in good faith with their Republican counterparts to get a bill across the finish line.

“Democrats in the Senate have been offered reasonable deals to reopen DHS, yet continue to oppose any compromise in an effort to appease their radical, open borders base. Their continued inaction leaves Americans less safe, and thousands of dedicated federal employees working without a paycheck. Ahead of the upcoming busy travel week, Americans are now facing record airport security wait times, all due to the ongoing DHS shutdown.  It’s time Democrats stop playing games and find a solution to end this ridiculous shutdown.”


Background: 

– The partial government shutdown for DHS has lasted 40 days, beginning on February 14, 2026. DHS funding supports important federal agencies that ensure the safety and well-being of the American people, including: the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and more. DHS has been unfunded and operating under a government shutdown for longer than it has operated funded during fiscal year 2026. 

– As a result of the ongoing DHS shutdown, travelers are experiencing the longest airport security wait times in the history of the TSA, according to the agency.

– Senate Democrats initiated this partial shutdown in an attempt to defund and reform ICE. Throughout this shutdown, ICE and CBP have continued to operate normally (including agents receiving pay), due to funding allocated to the agencies in the Working Families Tax Cuts. 

– This week, Senate Republicans offered Democrats another deal, which included many Democrat demands, to fully fund DHS. This deal was rejected by Senate Democrats, who counteroffered with additional requests. A rundown on this negotiation can be found HERE.

– The House passed a bipartisan funding package on three occasions with Congressman Guthrie’s support:
-On January 28, 2026, the House passed H.R. 7147 by a vote of 220 to 207.
-On March 5, 2026, the House reasserted its position and voted to pass H.R. 7744 to fund DHS by a vote of 221 to 209.
-Today, as Senate negotiations continue, the House voted a third time to assert its position on DHS funding by passing H.R. 8029, a bipartisan package, by a vote of 218 to 206.

– The Senate has repeatedly voted and failed to advance a funding package five times as of March 25, 2026.