On Thursday, the House finally ended a 76-day standoff regarding funding for the Department of Homeland Security by passing a Senate-supported spending bill. This decision will allow most parts of the agency to reopen after a prolonged deadlock.
Lawmakers in the House voted in favor of the measure after Speaker Mike Johnson, who initially hesitated, chose to advance the Senate plan that sustains multiple areas of DHS until September. Previously, he had expressed concerns that the bill might undermine law enforcement efforts.
This change of heart followed indications from the White House endorsing the Senate’s approach and urging swift action, leading Johnson to support the bill’s passage.
“I just got off the phone with the president, OK? I met with Leader Thune two hours ago. He knows exactly what we’re doing,” Johnson shared with CNN’s Manu Raju in a video on X. He emphasized cooperation, stating, “We’re all working on the same team. We’ll get the job done.”
While acknowledging ongoing concerns about certain provisions, Johnson confirmed he was cooperating with the administration, asserting, “I’m not defying the White House.”
The funding dispute had strained DHS operations for weeks. Since early April, the Trump administration relied on available funds to cover back pay and maintain operations, but officials warned that these resources were diminishing.
The newly approved bill does not extend funding for immigration enforcement agencies. Instead, it allocates resources for other vital areas of DHS, including the Transportation Security Administration, Secret Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Meanwhile, Republicans are strategizing a separate, party-line initiative aimed at increasing funding for immigration enforcement, concentrating on Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.
