The House faces a complicated path to end the 42-day partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security after the Senate approved a funding measure in early morning hours on Friday.
The Senate agreement would fund all but two immigration agencies, leaving the fate of DHS hanging in the balance as the bill moves to the House floor. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) must navigate competing conservative demands while working against a tight legislative calendar.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative Republicans, particularly those aligned with the Freedom Caucus and attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), are demanding the House also take up the SAVE America Act voting bill before any DHS funding measure proceeds. Several conservative lawmakers blocked an earlier continuing resolution over objections to the voting legislation.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, speaking at CPAC on Friday, has been a vocal advocate for stricter immigration enforcement and election security measures. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, also speaking at the conference, has pursued legal challenges related to both immigration policy and election integrity.
The fast-track process of suspension of the rules, which would allow quicker passage, is not available on Fridays under House rules, making it more difficult to move the legislation quickly without unanimous consent.
What the Left Is Saying
House Democrats have not explicitly endorsed the Senate deal, but the bill's passage would require significant Democratic support given Republican divisions. Progressive groups have criticized any funding measure that does not include protections for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, a position echoed by several Democratic lawmakers who have opposed DHS funding bills that lack such protections.
Democratic leaders have largely remained quiet on the specific Senate proposal, with attention focused on whether enough Republicans will support the measure to pass it without substantial Democratic votes.
What the Numbers Show
The DHS shutdown has lasted 42 days, making it one of the longer federal funding gaps in recent history. The Senate passed its funding measure at approximately 2 a.m. Friday, after hours of negotiations.
The bill funds all but two immigration agencies, meaning significant portions of DHS operations remain in limbo until the House acts. The House gaveled in at 9 a.m. Friday to begin consideration.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, currently in Europe for a G7 meeting, expressed confidence in negotiations with Iran as the conflict reaches its one-month mark.
The Bottom Line
The House must act quickly to end the DHS shutdown, but conservative demands for action on voting legislation create a procedural obstacle. Speaker Johnson faces the challenge of finding enough votes either from within his own conference or by seeking Democratic support, all while working against House rules that limit legislative options on Fridays.
What to watch: Whether Johnson can secure enough support for a rule governing floor debate, or if the House must seek unanimous consent to use expedited procedures. The outcome will determine whether DHS receives funding before the weekend and how conservative demands on voting legislation are addressed in future negotiations.