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If you think the Congressional Appropriations process couldn’t get any worse, I present you 2026. And maybe even beyond that.
The Department of Homeland Security is hunkered down, running on pocket lint, nickels lost between the couch cushions, and faded S&H green stamps (look at them, kids). Congress has not funded DHS for two months. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., got himself into a political sham — opposing, then supporting, then not acting on — the Senate-approved package to fund most of DHS.
As we always say, it’s all about the math, and when it comes to DHS money, it appears lawmakers have ticked off a box they lack a combination of. There is clearly no sequence of votes in the House and Senate that could secure DHS as a traditional, standalone appropriations bill.
Reporter’s Notebook: Why isn’t Trump able to force Congress to back down on DHS shutdown?
The US Capitol Building in Washington, DC, (left); An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer arrives at the scene (right). (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images (left); Reuters (right))
Now, congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump are turning to one of the few ways that could work to fund DHS — called budget reconciliation.
Congress’s budget reconciliation process is not traditionally used for appropriations bills – although lawmakers can combine this measure with money to spend on federal programs. However, filibusters prevent reconciliation. Thus, Republicans do not need 60 votes. If they keep their narrow coalition together in both the House and Senate, they can apparently pass a DHS bill on their own without help from Democrats.
Congressional Republicans intend to fill this reconciliation package with funding only for ICE and Customs and Border Patrol. Nothing for disaster relief. Nothing for the farmers. Nothing about the Save America Act. The President agrees. The goal is to have it completed by June 1, months after the latest DHS funding lapse.
But it’s more complex than that.
Gop fight gives way to confrontation with Democrats, derailing path to ending historic DHS shutdown
The House and Senate would have to take several steps to approve a shell of the budget proposal so they would have a filibuster-proof reconciliation tool available. Republicans made a similar effort last winter and spring. It was absolutely excruciating and it took several months before a, big, beautiful bill was finally approved through reconciliation. Republicans don’t have that kind of time anymore. Then, since last October DHS has either not been funded or has been blocked by interim spending bills.
We haven’t even mentioned how Trump is using this somewhat dubious authority to pay TSA workers and others from other funds – without Congressional approval.
Travelers experienced extensive wait times at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (left, center) and Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (right) due to the partial government shutdown on Sunday, March 22, 2026. (WVUE)
This raises the question to some people as to why the administration did not do this in the beginning. But the bigger issue is that Congress is ceding its most precious prerogative – the power of the purse – to the executive branch. This is not about whether Trump’s move to pay workers is constitutional or not. And, it sets a precedent that may be difficult to ignore during other funding impasses.
However, here’s the bigger problem: Congress’s inaction in passing appropriations bills on time. This has been an issue for years.
Historically, Congress has missed the October 1 fiscal deadline by relying on the “Continuing Resolution” (CR), which renews all funding on a temporary basis. Or, lawmakers combine a set of 12 annual spending bills into a “minibus” appropriations package. Lawmakers who might oppose an individual bill are more willing to support a group of bills – because there is something they like or support.
But turning to reconciliation as a way out of Appropriations Box Canyon is also another precedent that likely irritates congressional appropriators. Sure. They have done this before also. And in this example, it may ultimately be funded by DHS. But what does this mean for the future?
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R.S.D. Said congressional Democrats found “zero” improvements in the DHS funding deal. (Andrew Harnick/Getty Images)
Which brings us to October 1, 2026. That’s when the federal government starts fiscal year 2026 to fiscal year 2027.
Congress has struggled to fund the federal government since early 2025, when it began work on an appropriations bill for this year. The FY ’26 funding crisis — which led to a record-breaking, 43-day, government-wide shutdown in the fall, another partial government shutdown last winter and the current DHS impasse — has been an issue since lawmakers were working on bills for this cycle around this time last spring. So pray tell, will Congress be able to avoid a shutdown for FY27 this autumn?
In fact, some people are even speaking out about that potential danger – because no one can wrap their head around the current appropriation saga. And it’s possible that the problems this fall could be worse than last fall’s impasse. The reason? Midterm elections were held in November. It is doubtful that either side will be willing to make a deal just before voters go to the polls.
The scenarios are too scary to understand, so people are ignoring them.
WATCH THIS: Lawmakers furloughed while DHS workers go unpaid amid record-breaking shutdown
We have entered a new round of semi-perpetual funding impasse – exacerbated by mistrust between the parties, narrow congressional margins in both the House and Senate, parliamentary mathematical equations that do not balance, and Trump’s unwillingness to bargain or even negotiate with Democrats.
Yes. They have options to cover DHS next year, but the other 11 spending bills could be problematic.
Imagine trying to pass a defense spending bill that costs 44% more than last year? Or wants to spend a lot of money on war in Iran?
Where is the vote combination to approve the CR, let alone the individual bills? Would Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., be willing to help Republicans reach the 60 vote threshold to fund things? Especially when he seems likely to emerge as majority leader again? Probably not.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Democrats are not backing down from their list of DHS demands as the partial government shutdown continues. (Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
And suppose the Democrats win the House, the Senate, or both? Do you really think these spending impasses have gotten better in the last two years of Trump’s term?
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Back to Chevy Chase and Clark Griswold. The second part of that iconic quote from the Christmas holiday is: “We are on the threshold of hell!” He declares.
Pretty funny, but not when you’re trying to keep the government open after last year’s exploits. It’s not funny about the millions of federal employees who suffer from paycheck PTSD. Another round of spending missteps can only further erode trust between federal workers and their employers. This will damage morale – which is already underground. It is not meant to motivate people to work for the government.
Yes. The situation can become very bad. Political differences run deep and there is no means of voting to pass bills.
It may be spring, but the Christmas Vacation movie offers insight into where we stand with congressional appropriations bills: “It’s Christmas and we’re all in misery,” declares Ellen Griswold, played by Beverly D’Angelo.
Yes. And wait to see what Congress has in store for this Christmas.
