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House Republicans on Friday narrowly passed a short-term funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, advancing legislation that is unlikely to clear the Senate and could prolong the ongoing shutdown.
The measure passed 213-203 after House Speaker Mike Johnson rejected a bipartisan Senate bill that would fund most DHS operations but excluded key immigration enforcement agencies.
Johnson sharply criticized the Senate proposal, calling it “a joke” and blaming Democrats for the impasse, despite Republicans controlling the Senate and passing the bill earlier Friday.
Standoff deepens
The House-passed measure would fund DHS through May 22, but it faces steep opposition in the Senate, where Democrats have vowed to block funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection without limits on enforcement operations.
John Thune, the Senate majority leader, has no plans to reconvene the chamber during its two-week recess to consider the House bill, according to a GOP aide.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the measure would be “dead on arrival,” noting it would require 60 votes to advance in the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53-47 majority.
Trump weighs in
As the House debated the measure, Donald Trump signed an order directing DHS to resume pay for Transportation Security Administration officers, who have missed paychecks during the shutdown.
The lapse in pay has led to high absentee rates among TSA staff, contributing to long security lines at airports nationwide. A DHS spokesperson said paychecks could begin arriving as soon as Monday, though details about the funding source remain unclear.
Johnson said he spoke with Trump before the vote and that the president supports the House approach.
Democrats, moderates push back
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urged Republicans to take up the Senate bill, saying it would quickly end the shutdown with bipartisan support.
“If that bill is brought to the floor today it will pass,” Jeffries said.
Some Democrats also reiterated opposition to funding ICE without new restrictions, citing concerns about enforcement practices.
Rep. Susie Lee said lawmakers are demanding “guardrails” on the agency following recent incidents involving immigration enforcement operations.
Conservative pressure shapes vote
Johnson’s decision to pursue a short-term extension came after pressure from conservative Republicans who opposed the Senate bill.
Rep. Ralph Norman called the Senate measure “irresponsible,” arguing it failed to include provisions related to voter identification and immigration enforcement funding.
No clear resolution
With the Senate out of session and Democrats firmly opposed, the House bill has little chance of becoming law in its current form, leaving the DHS shutdown unresolved and likely to stretch on.
