House GOP Infighting Undermines Legislative Agenda

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) leads the narrowest House Republican majority since the Great Depression. In the past week the conference failed to pass three measures—a budget blueprint for immigration enforcement, a FISA reauthorization, and the five-year farm bill—without prolonged procedural votes, floor outbursts, and compromises.

The Hill

Republicans entered the 2022 election promising a “normal” Congress. Midterms, a 75-day Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, and a proposed $100 billion war-funding package have heightened pressure on Johnson while President Donald Trump pushes aggressive immigration enforcement.

PoliticoNPRCNN

• Mar 27 – Airport lines lengthen as DHS shutdown enters third week.

Politico

• Early Apr – Johnson’s three-hour vote pulls the farm bill, then restores it after a revolt.

The Hill

• Apr 30 – House passes bipartisan bill funding most DHS components, ending the shutdown.

NPR

• May 1 – 45-day FISA extension approved; budget resolution (214-212-1) clears $75 billion immigration-enforcement package.

NPR

• May 3-5 – Farm-bill negotiations over E15 ethanol and pesticide amendment stall.

WGHP - Fox8

DHS shutdown lasted 75–76 days; budget blueprint passed 214-212-1; farm bill cleared 224-200 (209 R, 14 D, 1 I); FISA extension is 45 days.

Politico

Delays jeopardize national security (expired spy powers), public safety (partial DHS funding), and food-security programs (SNAP cuts), and with the 2026 midterms weeks away the GOP’s governing ability could be eroded.

CNN

Johnson said the House “will get there” despite “different opinions across the conference.” Budget Chair Jodey Arrington warned that “the mission isn’t Republican or Democrat,” while Senate Majority Leader John Thune pledged rapid processing and President Trump set a June 1 deadline for the immigration-enforcement bill.

LA Times

Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) said “House Republicans have shown again that they can’t govern,” while GOP Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) warned “right now we don’t look as functional as we need to look,” and hard-line Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) called the partial DHS funding “asinine” and accused leadership of “screwing around.”

LA Times

Sources list the shutdown as 75 days, 76 days, or “10 weeks,” and farm-bill tallies differ on Republican dissenters; no clarification exists on whether the pesticide-liability amendment will survive Senate review.

Farm Bill Pesticide Shield Survives GOP Vote | Legis1

• “We can’t really agree on much of anything,” — Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX)

CNN

• “Are we going to protect our American citizens or are we not? It’s that simple a question.” — Rep. Keith Self (R-TX)

CNN

• “The idea that we’re isolating Border Patrol and isolating ICE is offensive to the men and women who serve,” — Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX)

Politico

• “I do so deeply desire to have just a normal Congress,” — Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA)

LA Times

Johnson must shepherd a second reconciliation bill—dubbed “Budget Reconciliation 3.0”—to fund the Iran war and defense before the June 1 deadline, while the farm bill returns to the Rules Committee for a vote on the E15 ethanol provision and pesticide amendment, and the Senate readies its own DHS funding bill.

The Hill