The White House announced the president’s signing of the legislation on Thursday afternoon after it passed the House hours earlier. Trump did not immediately comment on social media about the bill.
Certain agencies that fall under DHS, such as the Transportation Security Administration and the Secret Service, will now be fully funded through Sept. 30. The two agencies that enforce federal immigration operations are not included in the bill.
Funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection will be granted through a separate GOP bill that’s going through a legislative process known as budget reconciliation. It was the only way for Republicans to fund ICE and CBP without making major concessions, given Democratic opposition.
The House advanced that spending bill on Wednesday after the Senate did the same last week. It just needs to be approved in both chambers by June 1, the deadline that Trump imposed on Republicans.
Congress is going on recess soon and won’t return until mid-May, leaving Republican lawmakers a few weeks to pass the bill and send it to the president’s desk.
HOUSE PASSES FUNDING BILL TO REOPEN DHS MINUS BORDER ENFORCEMENT
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said his department is “back open” after 76 days, setting a record for the longest government shutdown in U.S. history after the 43-day federal funding lapse last fall. He added that the “Democrat shutdown” should never have happened.
“To our great, patriotic employees who have continued to protect the homeland every single day without a guaranteed paycheck — thank you,” Mullin posted on X. “President Trump and I are very grateful to be in the fight with you to Make America Safe Again.”
President Donald Trump said Thursday that he’s considering withdrawing American troops stationed in Italy and Spain due to the countries’ unwillingness to help with the Iran war.
Trump previously announced that the administration is “studying” a drawdown of U.S. forces in Germany, following a public spat with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The president has also frequently accused NATO members of failing to support American interests.
“Yeah, probably,” he answered when asked in the Oval Office if he was considering expanding his drawdown to Italy and Spain. “Why shouldn’t I?”
“Italy has not been of any help to us, and Spain has been horrible, absolutely horrible,” the president continued. “When we needed them, they were not there. We have to remember that.”
Though Merz has publicly backed Trump’s naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the German leader has also claimed that Iranian officials are making fools of Trump’s hand-picked ceasefire negotiating team.
“The Iranians are obviously very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skillful at not negotiating, letting the Americans travel to Islamabad and then leave again without any result,” the chancellor said earlier this week. “An entire nation is being humiliated by the Iranian leadership, especially by these so-called Revolutionary Guards.”
TRUMP WEIGHING US TROOP REDUCTION IN GERMANY AFTER MERZ’S IRAN WAR CRITICISM
You can watch Trump’s comments in full below.