Unnamed speaker urges more time to finish DHS 2026 funding, suggests extending continuing resolution
February 11, 2026 | Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Senate Committees, U.S. Senate, Legislative, Federal
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An unidentified speaker at a press event urged lawmakers to keep negotiating and, if necessary, extend a continuing resolution to finish the last outstanding appropriation: the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) fiscal 2026 bill.
"We need to fund the 2026, Department of Homeland Security Corporations bill," the speaker said, noting that the DHS package covers Border Patrol, ICE, FEMA, the Coast Guard, TSA and cyber-security functions. The speaker said 96% of the government already has funding in place and argued the remaining DHS measure should be completed rather than leaving agencies and federal employees at risk of disruption.
The speaker characterized recent discussions as "productive conversations" involving Republicans, Democrats and the White House and said Democrats only provided final text "just this weekend," which prompted a White House response. To allow negotiators more time, the speaker said the Senate should consider extending the continuing resolution to cover the agencies through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.
On the process, the speaker said an earlier House-passed, bipartisan bill remains available and expressed a preference for passing a single appropriations bill that funds all DHS components. The speaker cautioned that certain items are treated as red lines by negotiators but said there is a range of potential compromise areas and emphasized a commitment to ensure federal law enforcement can perform duties safely.
The speaker framed an extension as the most pragmatic way to avoid a government shutdown and to keep federal employees at TSA and other agencies working without interruption. No formal motion or vote on a continuing resolution was recorded at the event.
The next procedural steps were not specified during the briefing; the speaker said additional time beyond the immediate week would likely be required to reach a full-year agreement.
"We need to fund the 2026, Department of Homeland Security Corporations bill," the speaker said, noting that the DHS package covers Border Patrol, ICE, FEMA, the Coast Guard, TSA and cyber-security functions. The speaker said 96% of the government already has funding in place and argued the remaining DHS measure should be completed rather than leaving agencies and federal employees at risk of disruption.
The speaker characterized recent discussions as "productive conversations" involving Republicans, Democrats and the White House and said Democrats only provided final text "just this weekend," which prompted a White House response. To allow negotiators more time, the speaker said the Senate should consider extending the continuing resolution to cover the agencies through the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30.
On the process, the speaker said an earlier House-passed, bipartisan bill remains available and expressed a preference for passing a single appropriations bill that funds all DHS components. The speaker cautioned that certain items are treated as red lines by negotiators but said there is a range of potential compromise areas and emphasized a commitment to ensure federal law enforcement can perform duties safely.
The speaker framed an extension as the most pragmatic way to avoid a government shutdown and to keep federal employees at TSA and other agencies working without interruption. No formal motion or vote on a continuing resolution was recorded at the event.
The next procedural steps were not specified during the briefing; the speaker said additional time beyond the immediate week would likely be required to reach a full-year agreement.
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