House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday threw a wrench into plans to fund the Department of Homeland Security, saying that the language in a bill passed unanimously by the Senate weeks ago is “problematic” and that his chamber will put forth its own version of the measure. That threatens to further delay the process of funding the department, which has been shut down since February 14.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has warned that alternative funding for DHS employee paychecks, drawn from money in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that Republicans passed last year, will run out at the end of the month.
Republicans are working to fund DHS under a two-step process that is backed by President Trump but has faced stiff opposition from House conservatives. The plan calls for funding immigration enforcement agencies via a partisan reconciliation bill that bypasses the threat of a Democratic filibuster. It would fund the rest of DHS through a regular appropriations bill, which the Senate already passed via voice vote.
Johnson said that the Senate bill would “orphan” Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection by explicitly zeroing out funding for those agencies.
“It has some problematic language because it was haphazardly drafted,” Johnson said. “We have a modified version that I think is going to be much better for both chambers.”
A revised House bill would need to be passed by the Senate again.
Johnson’s announcement is the latest in a series of twists and turns he has taken on the funding plan. He initially raged against the Senate bill after it was passed, then joined with Senate Majority Leader John Thune in announcing an agreement to proceed with the two-step plan. But with House conservatives angrily opposed to the Senate bill, Johnson never brought it to a vote as hardliners demanded to see the Senate pass the reconciliation portion of the plan.
Trump on Monday urged Republicans to come together behind the reconciliation framework. “We need all Republicans to join together and support this Budget Blueprint, which will allow us to bypass Democrat obstruction in the Senate, and fund Immigration Enforcement with only Republican Votes,” Trump wrote on his social media site. “The Senate passed this Blueprint last week on Thursday morning, and now, House Republicans must UNIFY, and pass the same Blueprint to get the Bill done.”