Congress Agrees to One-Week DHS Funding Bill to Avoid Shutdown

Feb. 27, 2015 8:32pm Pete Kasperowicz

The Senate late Friday passed a one-week funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, avoiding a DHS shutdown that would otherwise happen at the end of the day.

The Senate vote came about three hours after the House failed to pass a three-week extension, which sent Republicans scrambling about what steps to take next.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) passed a one-week DHS funding bill late Friday, and the House was expected to follow shortly, avoiding a possible DHS shutdown. Image: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Dozens of House conservatives balked at a bill to fund DHS that didn’t defund President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration. And with most Democrats opposing anything other than a full-year funding bill, the House bill failed late Friday afternoon.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether House Republicans could even agree to a one-week bill, but the pressure of a possible DHS shutdown seemed to be enough to allow a short, one-week extension.

After being out for several hours, the Senate reconvened shortly after 8 p.m., and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) quickly passed the one-week extension by unanimous consent, without having to hold a roll call vote.

Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who had been opposed to anything other than a full-year funding bill, said he was satisfied that the short extension would help Congress solve the problem next week. Reid’s consent followed conversations that he and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) had with President Barack Obama, who has said he wants to see DHS funded, even if just for a short time.

“Progress has been made all during the day,” Reid said. “I’m confident the House will pass a seven-day CR tonight, and there will be, within seven days, full funding for the Department of Homeland Security.”

House Republicans were expected to reconvene the House shortly and pass it.

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