DHS shutdown now longest in government history

DHS shutdown now longest in U.S. history

Tens of thousands of TSA employees have been working without pay since DHS funding lapsed on Valentine's Day. The department's shutdown reached 45 days on Monday, eclipsing the record 43-day shutdown last fall that affected all of the federal government. Political analyst and historian Rich Rubino joined LiveNOW from FOX's Carel Lajara to talk about where things stand. 

The Department of Homeland Security shutdown reached 45 days on Monday, setting a new record for the longest shutdown in government history. 

Last year’s shutdown over expiring health insurance subsidies lasted 43 days before ending on Nov. 12, 2025. 

And after last week’s funding deal for the DHS stalled hours before Congress’ scheduled recess, the shutdown is prolonged even further. 

DHS funding bill

The U.S. Capitol building is seen on March 27, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

The backstory:

Funding lapsed for DHS back on Feb. 14, and a bill to fund parts of the department made it through the Senate last week but then collapsed in the House. 

Dig deeper:

The stalled deal shows a rare disconnect between the two Republican leaders in Congress, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

On Friday, Johnson angrily rebuked the plan that the Senate had unanimously agreed to as a "joke."

Congress in recess

Meanwhile:

Congress began its two-week spring recess on Monday, where senators and representatives head back to their homebase for state and district work. 

While they’ll be away from the capitol, behind-the-scenes conversations will likely still be happening to work a deal. 

What they're saying:

"Theoretically, and I think this is a substantial probability, there’s going to be a lot of phone calls between Mike Johnson, Thune and Trump," political analyst and historian Rich Rubino told LiveNOW from FOX. 

"It’ll be very hard to see a scenario where they go back to their states, go back to their districts, and they do not deal with this. I think there’s really going to be an uprising on the part of their constituents who are going through the TSA lines who are going to say, ‘You really need to deal with this,’" Rubio continued. 

RELATED: When will TSA agents be paid? Why Trump's order may not bring immediate relief to airports

TSA workers getting paid

Meanwhile:

The president last week signed a deal that will pay Transportation Security Administration workers.

White House border czar Tom Homan said in an interview over the weekend that he hopes TSA agents will be paid by Monday or Tuesday. They’ve gone without paychecks for 45 days now, with hundreds calling in or quitting and leading to long lines at some airports. 

What's next:

Experts say the hours-long security lines won’t improve much until officers are confident this won’t happen again anytime soon.