March 24, 2026

President Donald Trump has not yet made a public statement regarding the tentative bipartisan agreement to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), but inside sources indicate a positive outlook. A White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, described the deal as an "acceptable solution" on Tuesday morning. This development comes after weeks of uncertainty and more than five weeks since the last funding for DHS expired.
The deal, still under negotiation, aims to secure funding for most of DHS, excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement operations. Instead, it introduces a new GOP-led reconciliation effort to cover the withheld funding and integrate parts of the controversial GOP elections bill, the SAVE America Act.
The potential breakthrough emerged following a critical meeting between President Trump and a group of Republican senators at the White House. This meeting occurred shortly after Trump publicly dismissed the idea of funding DHS without including the SAVE America Act, signaling a shift in stance that could pave the way for a resolution.
These ongoing discussions are crucial as they represent a concerted effort to bridge gaps between diverging political viewpoints and secure essential funding for national security operations. The final details of the agreement are yet to be ironed out, but the current framework suggests a compromise that might satisfy both parties and lead to a sustainable funding path for DHS.
As the negotiations continue, all eyes will be on the White House and Congress to see if this emerging deal can indeed become a legislative reality, ending the funding stalemate that has shadowed the department for over a month.
*Jennifer Scholtes contributed to this report.*