Senate Fails to Advance Any DHS Funding Solution as TSA Absences Top 40%

On March 21, 2026, the Senate held multiple procedural votes on DHS funding but failed to advance any solution to the ongoing DHS shutdown that began in mid-February. A Democratic motion to fund only TSA failed along party lines. A Democratic bill funding TSA, FEMA, and Coast Guard but excluding ICE and CBP was blocked by Republicans. Sen. Ted Cruz proposed separating DHS appropriations to fund TSA immediately — that proposal also stalled. By this point, TSA absences exceeded 40% at some airports, with over 480 officers having quit and workers having missed nearly $1 billion in paychecks. Hour-long airport security lines became routine nationwide. Elon Musk offered to personally cover TSA agent salaries — an offer the White House rejected.