By Rosemary
Top congressional Republicans moved Wednesday to break a weeks-long impasse over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, unveiling a revised legislative strategy aimed at ending a partial government shutdown that has stretched into record territory.
Mike Johnson and John Thune announced a coordinated plan to advance funding for most of the department, signaling a temporary resolution to internal divisions that had stalled progress and forced lawmakers to leave Washington without an agreement last week.
In a joint statement, the two leaders said Republicans would return in the coming days to a Senate-backed framework negotiated with Democratic lawmakers.
The proposal would fund the bulk of the Department of Homeland Security, while excluding key immigration enforcement agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol. GOP lawmakers intend to pursue separate funding for those agencies through a party-line budget measure at a later stage.
The approach represents a renewed attempt to salvage a bipartisan deal that had initially gained traction in the Senate but ultimately collapsed amid resistance from House Republicans. While senators had previously passed a funding agreement by unanimous consent, the measure was rejected in the House, where Republican lawmakers instead pushed for a short-term funding extension covering the entire department.
That decision prolonged the shutdown, which reached its 47th day on Wednesday, as Congress adjourned for a two-week recess without resolving the standoff. The disruption has affected a range of federal operations tied to homeland security, including airport staffing and border management, intensifying pressure on lawmakers to act.
Despite the new alignment between Johnson and Thune, the path forward remains uncertain. The plan could face opposition not only from Democrats but also from factions within the Republican Party, particularly more conservative members who are expected to demand full and immediate funding for immigration enforcement programs central to the administration’s agenda.
Donald Trump has weighed in forcefully, urging Republicans to prioritize funding for border security and immigration enforcement, even if it requires bypassing Democratic support. In public remarks, he emphasized the urgency of restoring resources for frontline agencies and called for legislation to reach his desk by early June.
The proposal also underscores lingering tensions within Republican leadership. The relationship between Johnson and Thune showed signs of strain last week when the House rejected the Senate’s bipartisan framework, but Wednesday’s announcement suggests a renewed effort to present a unified front.
Meanwhile, Democrats have criticized the prolonged deadlock, arguing that internal Republican disagreements have exacerbated the shutdown’s impact on federal workers and essential services.
Chuck Schumer said the failure to reach a deal earlier was the result of partisan divisions, while Hakeem Jeffries called for immediate funding to restore normal operations across the department, particularly for agencies unrelated to immigration enforcement.
Even if the Senate swiftly passes the revised funding measure, questions remain about how quickly it could clear the House, where procedural hurdles and political resistance could delay action. In parallel, Republicans are preparing a narrower budget package designed to secure long-term funding for immigration agencies through the remainder of Trump’s term, aiming to insulate those programs from future political disputes.
As lawmakers weigh their next steps, the unfolding strategy reflects both the complexity of the budget fight and the high political stakes surrounding immigration policy, with the outcome likely to shape not only the immediate resolution of the shutdown but also the broader direction of federal homeland security funding.
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