To provide funding for administrative expenses of the Department of Homeland Security during any lapse in appropriations during fiscal year 2026, to require that the Department be responsive to congressional offices during such a lapse in appropriations, and for other purposes.
Summary
This bill provides appropriations to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the administrative expenses necessary to operate the department for the duration of a lapse in appropriations. This includes appropriations for the DHS Office of Legislative Affairs and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Office of Congressional Relations. With respect to any lapse in appropriations during FY2026, DHS must use the funding provided by this bill to ensure that it performs all functions that would be performed in the absence of such a lapse, including responding to communications transmitted to DHS during the lapse by congressional offices. (There is currently a partial government shutdown in effect for DHS agencies and programs due to a lapse in FY2026 appropriations for DHS.)
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Feb 20, 2026
Last action Feb 20, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Feb 20, 2026
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.
lower
Feb 20, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about HR 7617
Scope: US
Hi! I can help you understand HR 7617. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline