Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026.
Key claim: Congress has enacted a law that funds most of the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2026—while leaving out ICE and the Border Patrol—and authorizes back pay for DHS employees unpaid during the partial shutdown that began February 14, 2026.
Abstract
(HR7147 · 119th Congress) Homeland Security and Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026 This act provides FY2026 appropriations for agencies and offices within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) except for (1) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and (2) the U.S. Border Patrol. The act also includes provisions that approve obligations and provide for back pay related to the partial DHS shutdown that began on February 14, 2026, due to a lapse in appropriations for DHS. (Sec. 3) This section provides that references to this Act included in any division of this act refer only to the provisions of that division unless the act expressly provides otherwise. (Sec. 4) This section provides that the explanatory statement regarding this act that was printed in the Congressional Record has the same effect with respect to the allocation of funds and implementation of this act as a joint explanatory statement of a conference committee. It also specifies exceptions related to funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Border Security Operations that is excluded from this act. (Sec. 5) This section specifies that the sums in this act are appropriated for FY2026. DIVISION A–DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2026 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 TITLE I–DEPARTMENTAL MANAGEMENT, INTELLIGENCE, SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, AND OVERSIGHT This title provides appropriations to DHS for the Office of the Secretary and Executive Management; the Management Directorate; Intelligence, Analysis, and Situational Awareness; and the Office of Inspector General. (Sec. 101) This section requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit a report to the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) listing all grants and contracts awarded during FY2025 and FY2026 without a full and open competition. The OIG must review the report for compliance with laws and regulations and submit the results Latest action (2026-04-30): Became Public Law No: 119-86.
Why this matters
This enactment locks in full-year FY2026 funding for most of the Department of Homeland Security while deliberately omitting the two highest-profile immigration enforcement components—ICE and the Border Patrol—leaving their funding, and their workforce’s pay status, to be resolved separately. The back-pay authorization sets the precedent and funding mechanism for compensating DHS staff who worked or were furloughed without pay during the partial shutdown that began February 14, 2026.