At 2 a.m. on the 27th, the U.S. Senate passed a homeland security funding bill, but excluded immigration enforcement and border patrol.

The next step will be a vote in the House of Representatives. If passed, airport security checks and other services can return to normal.

Previously, due to a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, employees at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)—a subordinate agency responsible for airport security—were forced to work without pay during this period, leading to massive staff departures. Long lines formed at airports across the United States, with some people waiting up to nine hours, and even under normal circumstances, security checks took several hours. Now, airport security is severely congested and nearly paralyzed, causing widespread public frustration, with many citizens expressing they are near breaking point.

The funding halt has now lasted 42 days.

This bill aims to end the ongoing government shutdown that has persisted for weeks by providing funding for key agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Coast Guard, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), but excludes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol.

Since the Department of Homeland Security's funding expired on February 13, negotiations have been deadlocked for over 40 days. Trump has made a "significant shift" in position, no longer insisting on full funding, paving the way for the bill’s passage.

Due to the shutdown, tens of thousands of airport screeners have gone over a month without pay, sick leave rates have surged, with some airports reporting absenteeism exceeding 40%, resulting in passenger wait times stretching to several hours.

The bill has now been submitted to the House of Representatives for review. The House plans to convene on Friday (the 27th) to discuss it. If approved and signed into law, TSA personnel will resume normal operations.

Stay tuned for the outcome of the House vote.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1860833853999104/

Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.