This story never ends.

The government is still not fully funded for the rest of the fiscal year – meaning September 30.

Yes. The House and Senate approved a bipartisan bill funding most of the Department of Homeland Security in late April. It’s similar to what the Senate approved unilaterally in late March. But the House never took it up until just before a recent Congressional recess. 

Now the GOP is trying to go around Democrats and pass a three-year bill to fund ICE and the Border Patrol. Democrats never secured reforms at ICE. So they aren’t willing to help out. That’s why Republicans are using a special process called budget reconciliation to bypass Democrats.

The only hitch is that it takes a while. The goal is to pass this bill by June 1.

House GOP pushes back on Senate’s ‘skinny’ plan to end record-breaking DHS shutdown

Republican Congressional leaders initially wanted to make this bill rather spare, just funding ICE and Border Patrol. But they expanded that measure to include $1 billion for President Trump’s ballroom security after the recent assassination attempt at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

So Democrats are launching a blitz about the ballroom.

RELATED: REPUBLICANS QUESTION TRUMP BALLROOM FUNDING IN DHS BILL

«Republicans say let them eat cake and demand American taxpayers build Trump a palace while they’re at it,» said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) «These ‘ballroom Republicans’ have a constituency of one: Donald Trump’s ego.»

«The president just plowed down the East Wing of the White House. And it sits there as a gaping hole waiting to be filled. It was going to be his billionaire buddies filling it. Now it’s the American taxpayers,» complained Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)

Senate Republican leaders initially insisted that the latest funding bill only stick to funding Border Patrol and ICE.

«While my personal preference is to put as much as you possibly can in this reconciliation vehicle, there may only be an appetite for Border Patrol or ICE,» said Rep. Russell Fry (R-S.C.)

But the decision by GOP leaders to shove $1 billion into the bill opens the floor for other Republicans to stuff additional priorities into this budget reconciliation measure.

«I’d love to see the SAVE Act in some form or fashion,» said Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) on Fox, referring to the bill which requires proof of citizenship to vote.

«There are a lot of good conservative wins that we can put forth for the American people,» said Rep. Greg Murphy (R-N.C.) on Fox Business.

Some pro-life Republicans are pushing an extension of a ban on money for Planned Parenthood. The prohibition expires later this year.

«It’s been a very thorny issue. It’s all under negotiation right now,» said President Trump.

Meantime, Republicans accuse Democrats of returning to their mantra to defund the police as they fight Border Patrol and ICE funding. Democrats remain opposed because they never secured the safeguards they wanted for ICE after what happened this winter in Minnesota.

«My Democrat colleagues refused to provide a single dollar for the men and women who protect our borders,» said Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD). 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) as Democrats criticize a DHS funding proposal. (Mariam Zuhaib/AP Photo)

Efforts to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security emerged as a flashpoint in recent years. There are too many controversial policy areas fused together under one federal roof. That’s why there’s now a bipartisan plan to permanently split up DHS.

«It’s just become too big. It’s become too bureaucratic,» said Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), one of the chief sponsors of the bill.

The legislation would make the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) its own cabinet-level department. The Secret Service would report directly to the President. And the Transportation Security Agency (TSA) would head to the Department of Transportation.

Consider the consternation by travelers with the government not paying TSA during the 43-day comprehensive government shutdown. The same thing happened over the winter and into the spring as DHS remained unfunded.

Moskowitz believes his legislation would curb some government shutdowns. And, it would shield tourists from fiscal fallout.

«The American people’s travel cannot be held up in the political dysfunction of Washington,» said Moskowitz.

But that debate is for another day. The immediate question is if the Republican-led House and Senate can advance the package to finish off funding for ICE and CBP. 

Secret Service Director Sean Curran met with Senate Republicans over lunch Tuesday to defend the $1 billion request.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) was skeptical after she emerged from the meeting, noting that the Administration needed to provide «justifications» and «details,» not «just toplines.»

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) as he defends a DHS funding proposal on Capitol Hill. (Maxine Wallace/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) defended the spending request.

«You’ve got a President with three assassination attempts just in the last two years. And obviously the money that’s in there is about securing the building. And the Secret Service has a job to protect the president. We need to make sure they have the tools to do it,» said Thune.

After the meeting, Thune said Curran «did a very good job of laying it out and developing the case for why these resources need to be used.»

Other lawmakers need to hear more.

House lawmakers sit in the chamber on Capitol Hill. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

«I don’t know if they’re talking about infrastructure dollars or other kind of technology,» said Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Ohio). «I need to see the details before I pass judgment on whether or not the request is reasonable.»

Remember that Republicans want to support the President. But they also don’t want anything attached which will hold up ICE and Border Patrol funding. Especially this late in the game.

«Members are diving in a little bit. They want to understand how much of this is really related to security,» said Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) «Obviously, we have to keep the President and his guests safe. But when you’re talking about $1 billion, members are going to ask a lot of questions. They’re digging into details. I don’t think we know exactly how this shakes out yet.»

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Here’s what we do know: The Senate Budget Committee won’t meet until late next week to prep its version of the bill – regardless of what’s in or out of it.

The Senate must then conduct a «vote-a-rama» which goes around the clock to adopt the measure. Then whatever the Senate adopts goes to the House.

This won’t play out until the final days of next week, just before the Memorial Day recess. President Trump established June 1 as a deadline for finishing this bill.

The House just adjusted its schedule for next week. The House won’t meet for votes until next Wednesday, May 20. That means there’s a chance the House may need to hang around Washington for part of Memorial Day weekend to pass the bill. The House and Senate are both scheduled to be out of session for Memorial Day week itself.

If lawmakers pass this bill, the fight over all government funding for Fiscal Year 2026 will finally conclude. That’s sixteen months after House and Senate committees were hearing testimony from cabinet departments and agencies about what they needed for last fall.

RELATED: SENATE TAKES MAJOR FIRST STEP TO PREVENT FUTURE SHUTDOWNS WITH PAINFUL ACCOUNTABILITY PLAY

And yet this story continues.

Even if they pass this final tranche of funding for DHS, lawmakers have to start again on the spending hamster wheel for this fall. Otherwise, there’s another government shutdown on October 1.

El gobierno de Laura Fernández arrancó el actual periodo de sesiones extraordinarias en la Asamblea Legislativa de Costa Rica con una ambiciosa convocatoria de 62 proyectos de ley que abarcan seguridad, economía, infraestructura, reformas constitucionales y modernización del Estado.

La agenda legislativa presentada por el Poder Ejecutivo marca las prioridades que la administración buscará impulsar durante las próximas semanas en el Congreso y refleja un fuerte énfasis en temas relacionados con seguridad pública, reorganización institucional y desarrollo económico.

Entre las iniciativas convocadas destacan varios proyectos orientados al combate del crimen organizado y delitos vinculados al narcotráfico, una de las principales preocupaciones del país durante los últimos años debido al incremento de la violencia y las actividades ilícitas asociadas al tráfico internacional de drogas.

La convocatoria incluye propuestas para fortalecer la lucha contra el robo de combustibles, mejorar la protección marítima y endurecer acciones contra la extracción ilegal de oro, actividad que ha generado preocupación en distintas zonas del territorio nacional por sus impactos ambientales y vínculos con estructuras criminales.

El Ejecutivo también colocó como prioridad varios expedientes vinculados con el sector energético y la infraestructura nacional.

Uno de los proyectos más relevantes es el expediente 23,414, relacionado con la apertura y armonización del mercado eléctrico costarricense, una iniciativa que ha generado amplio debate entre sectores políticos, empresariales y sindicales debido a sus posibles implicaciones sobre el modelo energético del país.

La propuesta busca introducir cambios en el funcionamiento del mercado eléctrico nacional y forma parte de las iniciativas que el gobierno considera estratégicas para mejorar la competitividad y atraer inversión.

En materia económica, la convocatoria también contempla proyectos relacionados con la emisión de títulos valores en mercados internacionales, así como financiamiento para obras de infraestructura y programas de desarrollo.

Entre ellos figuran iniciativas vinculadas al tren eléctrico, proyectos educativos y propuestas orientadas al desarrollo sostenible.

El Poder Ejecutivo también incluyó reformas dirigidas a la modernización y reorganización de instituciones públicas, en línea con la estrategia gubernamental de reducción y transformación del aparato estatal.

Uno de los proyectos que más atención genera es el expediente 24,719, que plantea el cierre del Ministerio de Gobernación y Policía como parte de un proceso de restructuración administrativa.

La convocatoria incorpora además reformas al sistema de contratación pública mediante el expediente 24,099, iniciativa que busca modificar mecanismos de compras estatales y procedimientos administrativos.

También se incluyen cambios relacionados con instituciones como el Instituto Nacional de Aprendizaje y la Contraloría General de la República.

En el apartado de reformas constitucionales y supremos poderes, el gobierno convocó proyectos que pretenden modificar normas relacionadas con magistrados de la Corte Suprema de Justicia y del Tribunal Supremo de Elecciones.

Los expedientes 24,620 y 25,387 contienen cambios vinculados a requisitos y reglas para estos altos cargos del sistema institucional costarricense.

La agenda legislativa también contempla propuestas para impedir que una persona pueda aspirar simultáneamente a la Presidencia de la República y a una diputación, además de iniciativas relacionadas con candidaturas independientes.

Estas propuestas forman parte de un grupo de reformas políticas y electorales que buscan modificar reglas de participación dentro del sistema democrático costarricense.

Con esta amplia convocatoria, el gobierno intenta marcar el rumbo político y legislativo de los próximos meses, en un escenario donde la negociación con las distintas fracciones parlamentarias será clave para avanzar en proyectos considerados prioritarios por Casa Presidencial.

La definición de la agenda ocurre además en un contexto donde temas como seguridad ciudadana, reactivación económica y reforma institucional dominan el debate público nacional.

Ahora corresponderá a los diputados discutir, priorizar y eventualmente aprobar las iniciativas impulsadas por el Ejecutivo durante este periodo extraordinario de sesiones.

Capitol Hill lawmakers are clashing over President Donald Trump’s proposal to suspend the federal gas tax as prices climb past $4 a gallon amid the conflict with Iran.

Democrats are urging the president to «end the war,» while Republicans are split on whether the plan would deliver real relief.

«He’s got to bring this war to an end if he wants these gas prices to come down,» Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said. «And he’s gotta stop this war and stop looking for other gimmicks.»

«Why doesn’t he just end the Iran war, which is an illegal war, so that would take care of those issues?» Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, said. «He did not get authorization. It’s on President Trump. And the rise in gasoline and everything else, it’s on him.»

DEMOCRATS POUNCE ON $4 A GALLON GAS, BLAME TRUMP’S IRAN WAR FOR ‘BROKEN PROMISE’

Lawmakers’ comments came after Trump backed a temporary suspension of the federal gas tax on Monday as escalating tensions with Iran pushed fuel prices higher nationwide. Gas prices have climbed to an average of $4.51 a gallon, and diesel prices have risen to $5.66 as of Wednesday, according to AAA.

«I mean we want to keep costs low,» Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said. «Higher gas prices add costs to groceries and everything else, and so I think it’s something worthy to consider, and I’d be amenable to it.»

The suspension would potentially slash the cost of each gallon of gasoline by 18.4 cents and 24.4 cents per gallon of diesel. 

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., introduced legislation Monday to suspend the federal gas tax after Trump backed the idea. Hawley’s Gas Tax Suspension Act would provide relief at the pump for at least 90 days, while also allowing for an additional 90-day extension if prices remain elevated.

ENERGY SECRETARY WRIGHT SAYS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OPEN TO SUSPENDING FEDERAL GAS TAX AMID PRICE SURGE

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., during a joint Senate Judiciary and Homeland Security and Government Affairs committees hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on July 30, 2024. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Support for suspending the gas tax has emerged from both parties, but other lawmakers have proposed alternative methods to address rising gas prices. 

«I think that year-round E-15 is a better idea,» Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., said. «Year-round, E-15 would bring down the price of gas maybe 30, 40 cents a gallon. You throw in our credit card bill, it would bring it down another dime, 15 cents a gallon. So I think those are probably two better ideas to do it.»

E-15 is a cheaper, ethanol-blended gasoline that cannot be sold nationwide during the summer months due to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s pollution rules. Some Republicans, like Marshall, argue year-round access to E-15 would lower gas prices more effectively than a gas tax suspension.

ARAB ALLIES RECOGNIZE IRAN’S DANGER, LAWMAKERS SAY, AS REGION VIEWS REGIME CHANGE CAUTIOUSLY

A sign displays unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel prices at a Chevron gas station in Victorville, Calif., on March 17, 2026. (Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

While some lawmakers focused on lowering costs at the pump, others argued the U.S. should maintain or even escalate pressure on Iran despite rising prices.

«Let’s finish Iran, the IRGC anyway, once and for all,» Bacon said. «The Iranian people are great people, but their government is our enemy. They’ve been the most ruthless enemy that we’ve had over four decades.»

«They should be pummeled,» he said.

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Bacon’s comments reflect a group of Republicans who argue the surge in gas prices is a consequence of taking on Iran, warning that backing off pressure could carry far greater risks.

«Iran with a nuclear weapon is a threat to America and the whole region,» Bacon said.