Top GOP senators to meet with Trump on DHS funding

Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso (Wyo.) said he and Senate Budget Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) will meet with President Trump at the White House on Friday to discuss the path forward on funding immigration enforcement portions of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with only Republican votes.

The bill would be part of a two-step process to end the record DHS shutdown without acquiescing to Democrats’ demands for changes to immigration enforcement policy. The Senate has also passed a bipartisan bill to fund DHS that omits funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol.

“I’ll be meeting with the president tomorrow at the White House to talk about the proposal, what we plan to do,” Barrasso told reporters Thursday. “Lindsey Graham will be there as well, who’s chairman of the Budget Committee.”

Graham’s committee will have a critical role in crafting the legislation.

“We’re going to have to go it alone, because the Democrats aren’t interested in funding national security at a time of increased concerns around the world,” Barrasso said.

“The goal is to do it in a targeted way, the hope is to get it done fast,” the Wyoming Republican said of budget reconciliation to fund ICE and Border Patrol.

The two-step plan has gotten pushback from many House Republicans who are calling to fund the entirety of DHS without breaking it up. Barrasso said that the Senate GOP leadership will be working together with the House and that it will be discussed in Friday’s meeting with the president.

Asked about the prospects of a second bill to include a Defense spending increase in response to the war in Iran, Barrasso only said that he expected the White House discussion to include “broad discussion on a number of topics.”

“Specifically, what we’re telling you today is we’re moving ahead in spite of incredible obstruction by the Democrats with focusing immigration and funding immigration, custom enforcement and Border Patrol with Republican votes alone, using reconciliation,” the GOP whip added.

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Automatic registration for US military draft to begin in December

Pentagon turf war ramps up between Hegseth and Driscoll

Fetterman says he won’t support Iran war powers resolution

China, Russia sink UN vote on Strait of Hormuz; 10 countries join US in support

DNC panel rejects AIPAC-specific resolution, advances broader measure ...

House Democrat says he has filed articles of impeachment against Trump

Army secretary who clashed with Hegseth says he has no plans to ‘depart or ...

Sasse details cancer battle in new interview: ‘Death is something we should ...

NATO chief: US, Iran conflict could lead to ‘North Korea moment’

Iran demands $1 per barrel of oil passing through Strait of Hormuz, paid in ...

GOP blocks Democrats’ attempt to limit Trump’s Iran war powers

Economic growth downgraded to 0.5 percent in fourth quarter of 2025

Bessent presses Congress to pass crypto rules

Live updates: Trump holds troops near Iran pending ‘real agreement,’ rails ...

Judge halts Trump administration move to end protections for Ethiopians 

National Trust argues no ‘national security emergency’ exists for resuming ...

Hasan Piker lays bare the left’s double standard on hate

Former JAG officer: Strait of Hormuz toll would be ‘illegal’

© The Hill