House GOP Faces Internal Strife Over DHS Funding Amid Ongoing Shutdown

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) remains in a state of shutdown, now extending over 48 days, as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) grapples with internal dissent among House Republicans regarding a Senate-passed funding bill. This bill, which would fund most of DHS operations but exclude Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), has faced significant pushback from hardline conservatives within Johnson's party. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has urged Johnson to reconvene the House to address the funding crisis, emphasizing the bipartisan support for the Senate's proposal.

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The Senate unanimously passed a two-step funding plan for DHS, which would allocate resources to most of the department while deferring ICE and CBP funding to a later reconciliation bill. However, Johnson initially dismissed this plan as a "joke" before ultimately endorsing it under pressure from President Donald Trump, who set a June 1 deadline for the reconciliation process. This reversal has left Johnson in a precarious position, as many House Republicans express frustration over the perceived capitulation to Senate Democrats.

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During a private conference call, House Republicans voiced their discontent with Johnson's shift in stance. Some members, including Rep. Laurel Lee (R-Fla.) and Rep. Addison McDowell (R-N.C.), articulated concerns about the ideological inconsistency of supporting a bill they had previously denounced. The internal discord reflects a broader struggle within the GOP, as members navigate the pressures of their conservative base while also addressing the urgent need to fund DHS operations.

Inside Johnson and Thune’s clash over DHS — and how Trump burned them both

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) criticized the House GOP for prolonging the shutdown, stating, "The deep division and dysfunction among House Republicans is needlessly extending the DHS shutdown and hurting federal workers who are missing another paycheck." Meanwhile, Trump has indicated plans to use executive orders to pay DHS employees, which may alleviate some immediate pressures but does not resolve the legislative impasse.

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Critics within the House GOP argue that Johnson's support for the Senate bill undermines their party's principles and could lead to electoral repercussions. Some members have called for a more aggressive stance, insisting that funding for ICE and CBP should be secured before any broader DHS funding is approved. This sentiment reflects a deep-seated mistrust of the Senate's handling of immigration enforcement issues.

Politico

The House is not scheduled to reconvene until April 14, delaying any potential vote on the DHS funding bill. As the clock ticks down to the June 1 deadline for the reconciliation process, Johnson faces the challenge of uniting his party behind a plan that many members view as a betrayal of their principles. The outcome of this internal struggle will have significant implications for both the GOP's legislative agenda and its electoral prospects in the upcoming midterms.

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• “The first thing that needs to happen is that the House of Representatives under the leadership of Speaker Johnson and Republicans need to bring us back into session so we can actually reopen the Department of Homeland Security, stop creating chaos at airports all across the country and forcing people, including what happened to [Transportation Security Administration (TSA)] agents for weeks, to work without pay,” — Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader

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• “I don’t know how we can, with a straight face, turn around and take a position that is both completely ideologically inconsistent with what we said a week ago, and incredibly procedurally dangerous,” — Laurel Lee, House Republican

Republicans delay an end to DHS shutdown — and to Mike Johnson’s misery

• “The deep division and dysfunction among House Republicans is needlessly extending the DHS shutdown and hurting federal workers who are missing another paycheck,” — Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader

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• “I will soon sign an order to pay ALL of the incredible employees at the Department of Homeland Security.” — Donald Trump, Former President

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