Sponsors (2)
The bill keeps DHS services and critical homeland-security operations running during an FY2026 funding lapse—protecting public safety and constituent services—but does so by reducing congressional leverage and oversight and potentially increasing costs for taxpayers.
DHS employees, law enforcement, and the public: DHS personnel and essential homeland-security and law-enforcement operations (e.g., border and ICE activities) can continue during an FY2026 funding lapse, avoiding service and safety disruptions.
State and local governments and constituents: Congressional offices will keep receiving responses from DHS, preserving legislative oversight channels and constituent casework during a lapse.
Taxpayers: May face additional unplanned costs because the bill allows DHS to continue spending during a lapse (effectively creating open-ended appropriations).
Taxpayers and federal employees: Reduces Congress's leverage to resolve funding disputes quickly, increasing the risk that funding standoffs could be prolonged.
Taxpayers and congressional staff: Limits transparency and oversight of expenditures made during the lapse, making it harder for Congress and the public to track how funds are used.
Based on analysis of 1 section of legislative text.
Allows the Department of Homeland Security to keep operating during any lapse in FY2026 appropriations by authorizing and appropriating whatever amounts are necessary for administrative expenses. It explicitly covers DHS’s 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 congressional communications.
Introduced February 20, 2026 by Julie Johnson · Last progress February 20, 2026