House GOP resists passing Senate DHS bill until after ‘skinny’ ICE, Border Patrol funding 

House Republican leaders are resisting calls to bring up a bipartisan Senate bill to fund the bulk of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) until after passage of a “skinny” bill to fund immigration enforcement — despite grumbles in the Senate GOP and pressure from the White House as DHS runs out of options to pay employees.

Asked Tuesday if there was any chance of passing the Senate bill before the GOP-only reconciliation bill to avoid another lapse in pay for the majority of the department’s employees, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) indicated the chamber would not.

“The sequencing is important. We’ve got to make sure that we don’t isolate and, as I say, make an orphan out of key agencies of the department,” Johnson said. “And there’s some concern on our side that if you do the bulk of the department first before that, and they could be left out, we can’t allow for that. So, we’re working through that. The sequencing is important and the language of the legislation is important as always, and we’ll get there.”

Asked Tuesday if the House will still wait to vote on the reconciliation bill before the greater DHS bill, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) said: “That’s what our plan is.”

Johnson and House Republicans last month rejected a bipartisan Senate deal to fund most of DHS aside from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol, arguing it was unacceptable to not fund immigration enforcement as the party was unable to reach a compromise with Democrats. The Senate bill funds the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emegency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard and other key agencies.

House leaders warmed to the DHS Senate bill after President Trump endorsed a plan to fund ICE in a GOP-only reconciliation bill by June 1 — but only after progress on the “skinny” reconciliation bill. Conservative members in the House Freedom Caucus and beyond have called for passing the reconciliation bill first.

That position has frustrated some Senate Republicans, who fear that DHS could soon run out of money to pay federal workers through executive authority. Trump earlier this month issued an order that DHS workers be paid, but that funding may soon end.

Reconciliation bypasses Democratic opposition in the Senate, but can be a lengthy and arduous process.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters Tuesday morning that he had heard that House Republicans were considering passing the bulk-of-DHS bill along with advancing the budget resolution after the Senate sends it over.

Told that House GOP leaders were still wanting to wait for reconciliation, Thune said: “That’s pushing it back. I don’t think that DHS has the money to fund all those agencies for that long.”

“My understanding is, at least that the White House is pushing on to get the package done, the other appropriations package, particularly if we can execute on getting the budget resolution out this week,” Thune said. “I think it hopefully will free up the folks over there who have concerns.” 

The Senate is moving this week on a “skinny” reconciliation bill to fund ICE and Border Patrol. Scalise said the House will “expedite that” when it lands in the lower chamber.

Punchbowl News reported on Monday that the Trump administration wants Congress to pass DHS funding by the end of April. Russ Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, said in a Senate hearing last week that DHS “is disintegrating” as they scramble to find out how to keep paychecks funded.

Scalise said the White House “has made it clear that they need this fully funded soon.”

“To the President’s credit, he’s been using other pots of money to make sure TSA agents and other people at the department are paid while the Democrats shut the department down,” Scalise said. “So, those pots are running out. That’s why it’s important that we get the full agency funded.”

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

House Republican on Patel reported alcohol use: ‘As long as it doesn’t ...

Live updates: Trump leans against extension for Iran as ceasefire deadline ...

Tucker Carlson ‘sorry for misleading people’ with Trump support

Trump’s feud with Powell threatens plans to replace Federal Reserve chair

Mejia sworn in, filling Sherrill’s seat and further narrowing GOP House ...

Senate Republicans hope Supreme Court ‘surprise’ could help save majority

Resignation is Trump’s last chance at redemption

Roy unveils immigration bill dubbed ‘MAMDANI Act’

Senate GOP unveils budget plan to fund ICE, Border Patrol through Trump’s term

Republicans stress over economic whiplash from Iran conflict

Dozens of veterans arrested at Capitol during protest against Iran war

Ocasio-Cortez: Patel ‘a person who’s easily manipulated’

Trump says Energy secretary ‘totally wrong’ on gas prices not dropping to ...

Warsh declines to say whether Biden won 2020 election

The Pentagon could be about to make a $55 billion mistake

Trump makes last-minute pitch against Virginia redistricting ballot measure in ...

Johnson faces political gauntlet as legislative fights collide

The holy war America needed

The Hill Podcasts – Morning Report

© The Hill