WASHINGTON — Top congressional Republicans unveiled their strategy Wednesday to resolve the ongoing Department of Homeland Security funding crisis, attempting to bridge differences that left lawmakers in deadlock before their recent recess.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune revealed a dual-phase approach in a joint announcement. Their initial step would restore funding to most DHS operations, excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agencies. A separate legislative effort would later address funding for those immigration-related departments through Republican-only legislation.
The strategy faces uncertain prospects, with potential resistance even within GOP ranks despite backing from President Donald Trump.
“We appreciate and share the President’s determination to once and for all bring an end to the Democrat DHS shutdown,” Johnson, R-La., and Thune, R-S.D. stated.
This approach mirrors what senators originally envisioned when they unanimously approved bipartisan funding legislation last Friday. While the Senate could potentially pass identical legislation as early as Thursday, the timeline for House consideration remains unclear. Republicans anticipate several months will be needed to complete the second phase addressing ICE and Border Patrol funding.
Last week, House Republicans rejected the Senate’s bipartisan measure, instead modifying it to provide 60-day funding for the entire department.
The impasse persisted as Congress departed for a two-week break, extending the shutdown to its 47th day Wednesday.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer attributed the GOP’s revised approach to Democratic solidarity, stating “for days, Republican divisions derailed a bipartisan agreement, making American families pay the price for their dysfunction.”
The joint announcement signals renewed cooperation between Thune and Johnson after their relationship fractured when Johnson, responding to House Republican pressure, dismissed Thune’s original proposal.
The Republican leaders hope their new direction will persuade doubtful GOP members, though the most conservative legislators are expected to demand complete funding for Trump’s immigration enforcement initiatives.
“Let’s make this simple: caving to Democrats and not paying CBP and ICE is agreeing to defund Law Enforcement and leaving our borders wide open again,” Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., posted on X. “If that’s the vote, I’m a NO.”
Johnson faces uncertainty about gathering sufficient House support to bring lawmakers back to Washington before their spring break concludes in mid-April.
The targeted spending bill planned for later this year would fund ICE and Border Patrol through Trump’s remaining term, aiming to shield these agencies from future funding disruptions caused by Democratic opposition to the president’s immigration policies.
Trump addressed the shutdown earlier Wednesday through social media, urging Republicans to fund DHS immigration components through legislation that wouldn’t need Democratic backing. He requested the bill reach his desk by June 1.
“We are going to work as fast, and as focused, as possible to replenish funding for our Border and ICE Agents, and the Radical Left Democrats won’t be able to stop us,” Trump declared.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries issued a statement saying “It’s time to pay TSA agents, end the airport chaos and fully fund every part of the Department of Homeland Security that does not relate to Donald Trump’s violent mass deportation machine.”
Most Homeland Security employees continue working during the shutdown, though thousands have been operating without paychecks. This situation prompted increased Transportation Security Administration worker absences, creating lengthy security delays at major airports nationwide. These disruptions began improving this week as agents started receiving retroactive pay following a Trump executive order.
