By Blessing Nweke
House Republicans voted Friday evening to approve a short-term funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, a move that is unlikely to advance in the Senate and is expected to prolong the ongoing shutdown impasse on Capitol Hill.
The measure passed narrowly, 213-203, after House Speaker Mike Johnson rejected a bipartisan Senate proposal that would fund most of the agency but exclude Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. Johnson sharply criticized the Senate bill, calling it “a joke” and blaming Democrats for disrupting the funding process.
The standoff unfolded as President Donald Trump signed an order directing DHS to pay Transportation Security Administration workers who have missed paychecks during the shutdown. Officials said payments could begin as early as Monday, though details on funding authority remain unclear.
The House bill would extend DHS funding through May 22, but the Senate has already adjourned for a two-week recess, effectively halting any immediate path forward. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has no plans to recall lawmakers, citing a lack of viable support for the House proposal.
Democrats, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have vowed to block any measure that includes funding for ICE and CBP without stricter oversight on immigration enforcement. Schumer warned the House bill would be “dead on arrival” in the Senate, where 60 votes are required.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urged Republicans to adopt the Senate’s bipartisan solution, arguing it would quickly end the shutdown. However, internal GOP divisions and conservative opposition to the Senate plan have further complicated efforts to reach a resolution.
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