The era of American travel chaos might not come to a close anytime soon, as a potential deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security — and Transportation Security Administration workers’ paychecks — appears to be falling apart.
Republican members of the House’s Freedom Caucus are signaling they won’t move forward with a proposal to fund DHS, potentially lengthening a shutdown that began on February 14.
Early Friday morning, the Senate voted to move forward with a proposal to end the partial shutdown that’s currently preventing TSA workers from getting paid. The Senate-approved proposal excludes funding for immigration operations and came as Congress prepared to depart on a scheduled recess Friday evening. For that legislation to become law — and get TSA workers paid — it needs to be passed by the House.
“Could the Senate be any more lazy than to send to us a bill that doesn’t do the job and then leave town?” Rep. Chip Roy, a Republican from Texas and member of the House Freedom Caucus, said at a press conference. “So we’re going to stand up and say no to that. We’re going to send back a bill that’s responsible to the American people.”
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
