The partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has reached 41 days as of March 27, 2026, making it the longest partial government shutdown on record. Early Friday morning, the Senate approved a funding measure by voice vote to reopen DHS operations, but excluded funding for immigration enforcement activities, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol. The measure also omits provisions Democrats had sought to limit immigration enforcement actions, reflecting a continued impasse over immigration policy.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said he may declare a national emergency to provide pay to Transportation Security Administration personnel, who have been working without pay since the shutdown began Feb. 14.
The legislation now faces significant obstacles in the House, where Republicans have raised concerns that the bill does not include the Save America Act, a sweeping elections measure backed by President Donald Trump, and fails to provide funding for the administration’s deportation efforts. As a result, the path forward remains uncertain, with no clear timeline for House consideration. Until an agreement is reached, the shutdown is expected to continue, prolonging uncertainty for local governments that rely on DHS programs and services, particularly in emergency management, transportation security and federal-local coordination.
FEMA Review Council
Separately, on March 24, Trump issued an executive order extending the FEMA Review Council. The order extends the council’s timeline until ten days after submission of the report required under Section 3(c) of Executive Order 14180, or May 29, 2026, whichever comes first. The extension signals that the administration’s review of FEMA’s structure, authorities and federal disaster response policies remains ongoing, with potential implications for future federal disaster assistance and intergovernmental coordination.
BRIC Funding
In addition, FEMA announced a $1 billion funding opportunity under the fiscal years 2024-25 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. The application period opened March 25 and runs through July 23, 2026.
The funding is intended to support large-scale infrastructure projects that reduce disaster risk and strengthen community resilience, with an emphasis on projects ready for implementation. FEMA has streamlined the application process, eliminated phased projects and shifted greater responsibility to states, territories, tribal nations and local governments. Of the total funding, $757 million will be distributed through a national competition, alongside set-asides for states, territories and tribal nations, as well as funding to support building code adoption and enforcement.
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