In brief
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune have laid out a plan to fund the Department of Homeland Security amidst a prolonged government shutdown. The strategy includes two parallel efforts: a traditional appropriations process and a reconciliation bill that may require Republicans to act independently. The proposal faces uncertainty from both Democrats and internal GOP factions, amid indications from President Trump urging for immediate action. As lawmakers begin a two-week recess, it remains to be seen if they can secure the necessary bipartisan support.
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced Wednesday what they are calling a path forward to fully funding the Department of Homeland Security and ending a record partial government shutdown. They said in a joint statement that 'in the coming days,' Republicans in the House and Senate would follow through on President Trump's directive to fully fund the department using two distinct approaches. One would proceed through the commonplace appropriations process while the other would employ a reconciliation bill that Republicans might need to pass unilaterally later this year.The success of either plan remains uncertain and is likely to face pushback from Democrats, not to mention potential divisions within the GOP itself. 'We appreciate and share the President's determination to decisively put an end to the Democrat DHS shutdown,' stated Johnson, R-La., and Thune, R-S.D.The process had hit a standstill last week when the Senate approved a bill which neglected to include financing for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Border Patrol, while also sidelining Democratic requests for new restrictions on these agencies. Despite this setback, the House Republicans passed a bill earmarking funding for DHS for a duration of 60 days, prolonging the standstill as lawmakers departed for home districts for a two-week break.Senate Democrats will be required to collaborate with part of the funding strategy; however, their willingness to do so has yet to materialize. This development indicates a temporary alignment between Thune and Johnson, which had recently been strained when Johnson rebuffed Thune's proposal. Earlier, Trump added his voice to the issue, calling for Republicans to secure funding for the immigration aspects of DHS through a bill that does not hinge on Democratic backing. He expressed a desire for the legislation to reach his desk by June 1.'We are going to work as rapidly and thoroughly as possible to restore funding for our Border and ICE Agents, and the Radical Left Democrats will not be able to halt us,' Trump asserted.
