House · HR 7744 · 119th Congress
Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
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Summary
This bill funds the Department of Homeland Security for the rest of fiscal year 2026. It covers agencies like Border Patrol, ICE, TSA, the Coast Guard, FEMA, and the Secret Service. It also ends a partial DHS shutdown that started February 14, 2026, and approves back pay for affected federal workers.
In Favor
Funding DHS ends a government shutdown and restores full border and emergency operations. Agencies like FEMA and the Coast Guard can now respond to disasters without interruption. The bill also adds new oversight rules to track how DHS spends money and runs its programs.
Against
Funding DHS at current levels locks in a large budget with limited room to cut costs or change direction. The bill adds many new reporting requirements that take staff time and resources away from actual operations. Agencies must follow strict spending rules that reduce their ability to respond quickly to changing needs.
Additional Considerations
Purpose & Problem
Is the problem real and worth federal action?
This bill funds the Department of Homeland Security through September 30, 2026, and ends a partial DHS shutdown that began February 14, 2026, when a temporary funding measure expired. It also approves back pay for federal workers affected by that shutdown.
Scope & Related Provisions
Does it stay focused, or carry unrelated add-ons?
The bill mostly stays on topic for DHS funding, but it includes two additions outside DHS: $30,000,000 for Supreme Court salaries and expenses, and $140,000,000 for Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controller pay increases.
Who Is Affected
Who benefits, and who bears the cost?
DHS agencies and their employees receive operating funds. Federal workers affected by the shutdown receive back pay. Grant recipients such as state and local governments, nonprofits, fire departments, and transit agencies receive federal assistance. Taxpayers and fee-payers bear the costs.
Cost & Funding
Is it affordable and responsibly funded?
The bill appropriates roughly $17.7 billion for Customs and Border Protection operations, $10 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, $26.4 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund, and $10.6 billion for the Transportation Security Administration. These are funds authorized for spending, not independently verified total cost estimates, and no CBO score appears in the sources.
Risks & Implementation
What could go wrong in practice?
The bill requires DHS to submit dozens of reports, briefings, and spending plans on tight deadlines. Missing those deadlines triggers automatic funding cuts to specific accounts. Agencies must also manage funds left over from a prior shutdown period while meeting new spending rules.
For the actual bill text, see congress.gov.
AI-generated · Published 7/22/2026