House GOP Leadership Pushes for Full-Year DHS Funding Amid Senate Disagreement

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has articulated the House GOP leadership's preference for a full-year funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), contrasting sharply with Senate Majority Leader John Thune's (R-S.D.) plan to advance a second continuing resolution (CR). Johnson emphasized that the House has already completed its work on the DHS funding bill and expects the Senate to follow suit. He stated, “We’ve not moved a CR here because our position is, the Senate should pass the House-passed homeland bill. We got it done. We did the work in the House, and I think they should — they should get that through.”

The Hill

The urgency of the situation is underscored by the impending expiration of DHS funding, which is set for February 13. Johnson expressed a willingness to meet with Thune to discuss the Senate's approach, indicating a desire to understand their perspective on the funding issue. He noted, “I’m very hopeful. I mean, we still have time on the clock. When there’s a will, there’s a way, and they can come to an agreement on this and get it done.”

The Hill

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has firmly rejected the idea of a stopgap funding measure for DHS, labeling it a tactic for Republicans to delay necessary reforms. Jeffries stated, “I’m a hard no on a continuing resolution. The Republicans are trying to stall for time. ICE needs to be dramatically reformed.” This opposition highlights the significant partisan divide regarding DHS funding and immigration enforcement reforms.

The Hill

The debate over DHS funding reflects broader tensions within Congress regarding immigration policy and fiscal responsibility. Several hardline Republican members have indicated that if a CR is pursued, it should extend through the end of the fiscal year on September 30. Johnson has refrained from committing to the length of any potential CR, stating, “I’m not going to prejudge the length of it or what it should be.”

The Hill

The ongoing impasse between the House and Senate, coupled with the firm stance of House Democrats, suggests that reaching a consensus on DHS funding will require significant negotiation and compromise.

The Hill

• “We’ve not moved a CR here because our position is, the Senate should pass the House-passed homeland bill. We got it done. We did the work in the House, and I think they should — they should get that through,” — Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House

The Hill

• “I’m very hopeful. I mean, we still have time on the clock. When there’s a will, there’s a way, and they can come to an agreement on this and get it done,” — Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House

The Hill

• “I’m a hard no on a continuing resolution. The Republicans are trying to stall for time. ICE needs to be dramatically reformed,” — Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader

The Hill

While Speaker Johnson advocates for a full-year funding bill, Senate Majority Leader Thune's intention to pursue a CR indicates a lack of consensus on the path forward. The specific details of the proposed CR and its implications for DHS operations remain unclear, as does the potential for bipartisan agreement on immigration reforms.

The Hill