Sponsors (2)
The bill preserves pay and operational continuity for DHS administrative and some mission functions during a 2026 funding lapse—protecting employees, oversight, and some security operations—but does so at the cost of potential extra taxpayer spending and reduced pressure on Congress to finalize appropriations, with a risk that limited emergency funds could be shifted away from frontline needs.
DHS employees and contractors will continue receiving pay for necessary administrative functions during a 2026 funding lapse, avoiding immediate unpaid furloughs.
Maintains continuity of critical DHS operations during a funding lapse, reducing disruption to homeland security functions.
Congressional offices and constituents will continue to receive responses from DHS during funding gaps, preserving oversight and constituent services.
By allowing certain DHS functions to continue during a lapse, the bill could reduce urgency for Congress to negotiate full-year appropriations, weakening incentives to resolve funding on time.
Limited emergency funds could be diverted toward administrative or communications offices (e.g., Office of Legislative Affairs and ICE congressional relations) instead of frontline operational needs during a lapse, potentially undermining operational readiness.
Taxpayers may face additional unplanned spending to fund DHS administrative functions during shutdowns.
Based on analysis of 1 section of legislative text.
Allows DHS to spend "such amounts as may be necessary" to continue all DHS functions, including legislative and ICE congressional relations, during any FY2026 funding lapse.
Introduced February 20, 2026 by Julie Johnson · Last progress February 20, 2026
Provides that if DHS lacks appropriations at any time in fiscal year 2026, DHS may spend “such amounts as may be necessary” to pay administrative expenses and continue operating for the duration of the lapse. It explicitly covers the Office of Legislative Affairs and ICE’s Office of Congressional Relations and requires the Secretary to ensure DHS performs all functions it would otherwise perform, including responding to communications from congressional offices during the lapse.