Handful of Democrats Join House GOP To End DHS Shutdown

Mar 11, 2026

Handful of Democrats Join House GOP To End DHS Shutdown

A small group of House Democrats joined Republicans this week to pass legislation aimed at ending a partial shutdown of the United States Department of Homeland Security, highlighting divisions within Congress as lawmakers struggle to resolve a tense funding standoff in Washington.

The House approved the funding bill in a close vote of 221–207, with most Democrats opposing the measure but a handful crossing party lines to support it. The legislation would fund the Department of Homeland Security through the end of the fiscal year.

The vote came after weeks of political deadlock that left the agency partially shut down. The dispute centered on immigration enforcement policies and demands from Democrats for stronger oversight of federal immigration agents.

Republicans argued that continuing the shutdown could jeopardize national security and disrupt essential services. Thousands of federal employees, including transportation security workers and other homeland security staff, were affected by the funding lapse.

Several centrist Democrats said they supported the bill to keep critical agencies operating, including disaster response and border security programs. Some lawmakers emphasized that the funding measure also included provisions related to training and oversight for immigration officers.

Still, most Democratic leaders opposed the legislation, saying it failed to address broader concerns about immigration enforcement and accountability. Party leaders continued to push for additional reforms before backing any long-term funding agreement.

The vote underscored deep divisions within Congress over immigration policy and federal spending. While the House managed to pass the bill with bipartisan support, the proposal still faces significant challenges in the Senate, where it would need additional votes to become law.

Iran Warns Ukraine It Could Become a ‘Legitimate Target’ Over Alleged Drone Support to Israel Tensions escalated dramatically after a senior Iranian official issued a stark warning to Ukraine, accusing Kyiv of siding with Israel in the ongoing regional conflict. The statement has raised fears that the war’s geopolitical ripple effects could extend far beyond the Middle East. According to Iranian officials, Ukraine’s alleged support involving drone technology for Israel would effectively make the country a direct participant in the conflict. Tehran argues that such assistance crosses the line from political support into military involvement. The warning came from Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of Iran’s parliament, who posted the message on social media platform X. In the post, he accused Ukraine of aligning itself with what he described as the “Israeli regime” during a critical moment of confrontation. Ghalibaf claimed that by assisting Israel with drone capabilities, Ukraine had effectively entered the war. He argued that such actions would allow Iran to treat Ukrainian territory as a potential military target under international law. To support his argument, the Iranian official cited Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which outlines the right of nations to self-defense if they face armed aggression. Tehran’s interpretation suggests that any state aiding Israel militarily could be considered part of the battlefield. Ukraine has not publicly confirmed the accusations. Officials in Kyiv have previously denied involvement in military operations related to the Israel-Iran confrontation, maintaining that the country is focused on defending its own territory amid its war with Russia. Analysts say the threat reflects the widening geopolitical fault lines emerging around the Israel–Iran confrontation. If more countries become indirectly involved through military support, the conflict could transform into a broader international crisis. Iran and Israel have traded accusations and threats for years, but the latest exchange signals a potentially dangerous expansion of rhetoric. Bringing Ukraine into the dispute adds another volatile dimension to an already fragile global security landscape. Western observers warn that such statements, even if largely rhetorical, could further inflame tensions and complicate diplomatic efforts aimed at preventing the Middle East conflict from spiraling into a multi-front global confrontation.