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After weeks of gridlock, lawmakers are beginning to move forward on a deal to ease the impact of the partial government shutdown

(NBC) – After weeks of gridlock, lawmakers are beginning to move forward on a deal to ease the impact of the partial government shutdown that has disrupted travel and left federal workers without pay.

In an early morning vote, the United States Senate approved a measure to reopen the Department of Homeland Security — but notably excluded funding for U.S. Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which Democrats opposed.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer defended the decision, saying, “No blank check for a lawless ICE and Border Patrol.”

Republicans pushed back, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune arguing Democrats were more focused on politics than solutions.

“Democrats didn’t actually want a solution. They wanted an issue,” Thune said.

Immigration enforcement has been at the center of the dispute, which triggered a 42-day partial shutdown. The standoff left hundreds of thousands of federal workers — including Transportation Security Administration officers — without pay, contributing to widespread airport delays and frustration nationwide.

Travelers across the country say the impact has been severe.

“Everybody needs to pay to take care of their family,” one traveler said, while another expressed anger at lawmakers for failing to act sooner.

In response to mounting pressure, Donald Trump moved to bypass Congress, ordering the new DHS secretary to immediately issue pay for TSA officers. However, officials say that action is only a temporary fix.

The Senate deal marks a potential breakthrough, but it is not yet final. The United States House of Representatives must still approve the measure before federal workers can receive consistent pay again.

House Speaker Mike Johnson signaled uncertainty about the path forward, saying lawmakers will have to wait and see how negotiations unfold.