White House Offers Concessions On DHS Funding To End Shutdown

The White House sent a letter, obtained by the Daily Caller, to Republican Maine Sen. Susan Collins and Alabama Sen. Katie Britt on Tuesday offering five points of concessions to reopen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The DHS has been shutdown since Feb. 14, after lawmakers couldn’t agree to reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The administration has blamed Democrats for refusing to budge and vote on the issue.

The White House outlined five reforms they’re willing to grant Democrats, including expanding body–worn cameras by DHS law enforcement, limiting civil immigration enforcement activities at some sensitive locations, increasing oversight of DHS detention facilities, enforcing visible officer identification and not deporting U.S. citizens. (RELATED: Senior Dem Rep Admits Why Party Shut Down Government)

“The Administration has worked in good faith to again reach bipartisan agreement on full funding for the entire Department of Homeland Security and institute common–sense operational improvements to federal immigration enforcement operations that enhance the safety of American communities,” the letter reads.

“Democrats must stop holding the safety and security of the American people hostage and move forward with fully funding DHS,” the letter adds. 

A senior White House official told reporters on a background call that Democrats have been unwilling to negotiate to reopen the agency. The letter is the latest effort by the White House to try to reach some agreement with Democrats to reopen the agency.

Enough is enough.

The Democrat shutdown of DHS must end! https://t.co/AQULDHfWG3

— TSA (@TSA) March 8, 2026

The shutdown has left tens of thousands of airport employees without pay, something Americans are now beginning to feel.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) posted on X March 9, calling on Democrats to reopen DHS.

“This chaos is a direct result of Democrats and their refusal to fund DHS. Stop holding our national security and everyday Americans hostage!” TSA posted on Monday.

“So you have people like a TSA officer that went without pay for 43 days in the previous Democrat-led shutdown, and here they go once again. The financial insecurity that comes from that is tremendous,” Britt, who is leading negotiations between Democrats and the White House, said in early March.

“We heard reports of officers sleeping in their cars at airports to save money on gas, selling their blood and plasma and taking on a second job to make ends meet. Some are just recovering from the financial impact of the 43-day shutdown and many are still reeling from it,” she continued.