Republican Leaders Propose Solution to End DHS Funding Stalemate Amid Ongoing Shutdown

Wed Apr 01 2026 21:38:18 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune unveil their strategic plan to fund the Department of Homeland Security and resolve the ongoing government shutdown, amid challenges from both Democrats and fellow Republicans.

In an effort to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and put an end to a record partial government shutdown, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced a dual-track strategy. The proposal involves following both the regular appropriations process and a reconciliation bill that House Republicans would likely pass alone later this year. The ongoing stalemate, exacerbated by differing party agendas, leads to uncertainty on whether the plan will receive bipartisan support as lawmakers head into a two-week recess.

WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced a new strategy on Wednesday to navigate the funding challenges facing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and to eliminate the record partial government shutdown.

In a joint statement, the Republican leaders expressed their commitment to fully fund DHS, indicating that their approach will follow two parallel tracks. One track will adhere to the standard appropriations process, while the other will likely involve a reconciliation bill that House Republicans might push through without Democratic support later this year.

However, this dual approach is not guaranteed success and may face significant resistance not only from Democrats but also potentially from factions within their own party.

We appreciate and share the President’s determination to once and for all bring an end to the Democrat DHS shutdown, Johnson and Thune stated.

Recent congressional actions have highlighted divisions; the Senate passed a bill that excluded funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Border Patrol, sidelining Democratic demands for new limits on these agencies.

The impasse persisted even as House Republicans pushed a measure that would fund DHS for a temporary period of 60 days, keeping the government in shutdown as lawmakers took a two-week recess to return to their home states.

While Senate Democrats may need to join parts of the GOP plan, it's uncertain if they will agree to the structure proposed by the Republican leaders, leaving the future of the proposal in doubt.

The announcement of this new strategy reflects ongoing collaboration between Thune and Johnson, whose working relationship faced tension after Johnson rejected one of Thune’s earlier plans.

Earlier in the day, Trump addressed the shutdown via social media, urging Republicans to pass immigration-related funding for DHS through a bill independent of Democratic cooperation, stressing his desire to see legislation presented to him by June 1. He emphasized the need to act swiftly to ensure funding for Border and ICE agents, vowing that the opposition from Radical Left Democrats wouldn’t impede their progress.