Fiscal year (FY) 2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) were signed into law April 30 (P.L. 119-86), ending the department’s shutdown that began February 14. The lapse in appropriations was due to disagreement over the administration’s immigration enforcement policies. In lieu of an agreement in this area, the bill does not fund immigration enforcement efforts. A separate reconciliation bill, now working its way through Congress, would fund these activities through FY 2029.
This brief describes funding and policy provisions for DHS programs in the bill and the accompanying explanatory statement submitted by the House on January 22, 2026, which according to the bill, serves as the joint explanatory statement (JES). It also includes provisions from House Report 119-173, which carries the same weight as the JES unless noted otherwise.
Of note, Division B of the bill provides retroactive funding for DHS to cover the duration of the shutdown. Many provisions detailed in the sections below speak to recent administrative actions to modify grant awards, withhold funding, and reorganize the federal workforce.