The US Senate has passed a bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, bringing an end to a lengthy partial government shutdown that caused chaos at airports across the country.
The legislation, which must still be approved by the House and signed by President Donald Trump, marks a significant reversal for Republicans who had blocked similar proposals to partially fund the department for weeks.
Democrats had offered to fund most of DHS, excluding the Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but Republicans refused, citing concerns over immigration enforcement.
However, the prolonged airport delays, which saw passengers facing hours-long lines and waits, put pressure on lawmakers to find a solution.
President Trump had earlier announced that he would sign an order to pay Transportation Security Administration officers, tapping funds from his 2025 tax and spending bill to cover their salaries.
Under the deal, Republicans agreed to fund most of the department's operations, excluding ICE and Border Patrol, which had already received funding for multiple years.
Democrats had sought enhanced training for ICE officers, expanded use of body cameras, and the use of badges clearly identifying officers by name, but Republicans refused to accede to these demands.
The partial shutdown has had less overall impact than last year's record-setting funding lapse, but pressure on lawmakers has been escalating as travelers suffer through hours-long delays at major US airports.
