House Speaker Mike Johnson Navigates Turbulent Legislative Week Amid Razor-Thin Majority

During a week dubbed “hell week” by Rep. Troy Nehls, Speaker Mike Johnson oversaw all-night sessions, last-minute votes, and procedural reversals. The House passed a bipartisan Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill that ended a 76-day shutdown, approved a 45-day extension of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), and moved a farm bill and a budget-reconciliation package through a chamber where the Republican majority rests on a two-vote margin.

The Hill

Johnson assumed the speakership after Kevin McCarthy’s ouster and now leads one of the narrowest House majorities in modern history. The conference includes the hard-line Freedom Caucus, pragmatic conservatives, and Trump-aligned members, all pressing the speaker for divergent priorities—from a $100 billion war-funding package championed by Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington to a separate immigration-enforcement reconciliation effort.

Speaker Mike Johnson once longed for a 'normal Congress,' but that seems long gone in the House

• Mon-Tue: Marathon Rules Committee mark-ups on a 14-page FISA revision and the farm bill; the FISA amendment fails.

The Hill

• Wed: Johnson negotiates a deal to attach a year-round ethanol provision to the farm bill; the agreement collapses, prompting shouted objections on the floor.

NOTUS

• Wed night: A vote on the budget blueprint stalls for more than five hours amid ethanol disputes.

Mike Johnson survives ‘hell week’ on Capitol Hill — but not before some chaos

• Thu: The House passes a Senate-originated DHS funding measure by voice vote, ending the shutdown.

Fox News (website)

• Fri: A 45-day “clean” extension of FISA is approved after a brief, contentious debate.

The Hill

• DHS shutdown lasted 76 days, the longest in U.S. history.

NPR

• Republican majority: 2-vote margin.

UsNews and World Report

• Arrington’s war-funding proposal: > $100 billion.

Speaker Mike Johnson once longed for a 'normal Congress,' but that seems long gone in the House

• Senate passed the DHS bill unanimously; House passed it after a week-long delay.

The Hill

• The One Big Beautiful Bill previously allocated > $150 billion to DHS.

The Hill

The episode highlights the difficulty of governing with a razor-thin majority and may shape voter perceptions ahead of the 2026 midterms. Successes such as ending the shutdown provide a tangible achievement, while internal discord risks portraying the GOP as dysfunctional.

UsNews and World Report

Johnson told reporters he “met with Leader Thune two hours ago” and that “we’re all working on the same team” as the House moves forward. He emphasized that the DHS bill was “not defying the White House,” noting a recent call with President Trump. Senate Majority Leader John Thune urged the House to act quickly, and Budget Chairman Arrington described the war-funding component as the “centerpiece” of the upcoming reconciliation package.

Bloomberg Government

Democratic leader Rep. Ted Lieu asserted that “House Republicans have shown again that they can’t govern.” Within the conference, Rep. Max Miller blamed Johnson’s “appeasement” for creating “dysfunction,” while Rep. Chip Roy described the process as a “shit show.” Several members complained that the speaker “has no guidance or direction” and that “we’re moving from one fire drill to the next every single week.”

Mike Johnson survives ‘hell week’ on Capitol Hill — but not before some chaos

Johnson initially dismissed the Senate DHS proposal as “a joke,” yet reversed course weeks later, citing pressure from the White House and Senate. Some Republicans argue the bill should have been passed earlier, while others maintain that the speaker’s timing was necessary to preserve leverage for the pending immigration-enforcement reconciliation.

The Hill

• “Sometimes it’s an ugly process, sometimes it’s a long process,” — Mike Johnson, House Speaker

Speaker Mike Johnson once longed for a 'normal Congress,' but that seems long gone in the House

• “I do so deeply desire to have just a normal Congress,” — Mike Johnson, House Speaker

Speaker Mike Johnson once longed for a 'normal Congress,' but that seems long gone in the House

• “But we’re still getting stuff done. We’re sending it over to the Senate. So we look forward to them doing their job.” — Chip Roy, Representative (TX)

Speaker Mike Johnson once longed for a 'normal Congress,' but that seems long gone in the House

• “We’re not defying the White House,” — Mike Johnson, House Speaker

Fox News (website)

• “We’ll continue to do that for the remainder of the year, and that is a large reason why we are going to win the midterms so that the grown-ups can stay in charge here.” — Mike Johnson, House Speaker

The Hill

The speaker plans to advance the “budget reconciliation 3.0” package, which includes the $100 billion war-funding component, and to schedule a separate vote on the immigration-enforcement funding bill before the congressional recess. The outcomes will likely influence the GOP’s electoral prospects in November.

Speaker Mike Johnson once longed for a 'normal Congress,' but that seems long gone in the House