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Congress·In Committee·H.R. 7617

DHS: Funding and Operations During Government Shutdowns

To provide funding for administrative expenses of the Department of Homeland Security during any lapse in appropriations during fiscal year 2026, to require that the Department be responsive to congressional offices during such a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes.

22 days ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

House
Senate
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Key Points

  • This bill ensures the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stays open and funded even if the rest of the government shuts down in 2026. It provides the money needed for administrative tasks so the agency doesn't have to stop its work or furlough essential staff.
  • A major part of the plan requires DHS to stay in touch with Congress. Usually, during a shutdown, many agency offices stop answering questions. This bill forces DHS and ICE to keep their legislative offices open to answer calls and emails from lawmakers who are trying to help their constituents.
  • The bill tells the Secretary of Homeland Security to make sure the department does everything it normally does, even without a new budget. This is meant to prevent delays in immigration services, border security, and other safety tasks that might otherwise be slowed down during a funding gap.
  • This matters because government shutdowns often create backlogs and stop citizens from getting help with federal issues. By keeping DHS fully active, the bill aims to protect national security and public services from being interrupted by political disagreements over the federal budget.

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Feb 20, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.

Feb 20, 2026

Introduced in House

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

To provide funding for administrative expenses of the Department of Homeland Security during any lapse in appropriations during fiscal year 2026, to require that the Department be responsive to congressional offices during such a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes.

Bill NumberHR 7617
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on Appropriations.

Sponsor

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