WASHINGTON — Congressional Republican leadership revealed their strategy Wednesday for restoring complete funding to the Department of Homeland Security and bringing a historic partial government shutdown to a close.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune outlined their approach in a joint statement, indicating that GOP members in both chambers will implement President Donald Trump’s instructions to fully finance the department through dual legislative pathways in the upcoming days. The first route involves standard appropriations procedures, while the second utilizes a reconciliation measure that Republicans would likely need to advance independently later in the year.
However, success isn’t assured for either approach, and the plan is expected to encounter resistance from Democratic lawmakers and potentially from within Republican ranks as well.
“We appreciate and share the President’s determination to once and for all bring an end to the Democrat DHS shutdown,” Johnson, representing Louisiana, and Thune, from South Dakota, stated.
Legislative gridlock emerged last week when the Senate approved legislation that excluded funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol operations while abandoning Democratic proposals for new agency restrictions.
Meanwhile, House Republicans advanced their own measure providing complete DHS funding for a 60-day period.
The shutdown persisted as Congress members departed for a two-week break in their home states and districts. While Senate Democrats must collaborate on portions of the Republican plan, their willingness to participate remains uncertain.
