The House is set to take up a $69.5 billion budget reconciliation package this week to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol through 2029 after the Senate passed it on Friday, but Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) faces a razor-thin margin for approval.
Johnson can only afford to lose two Republican votes assuming all members are present and Democrats remain unified in opposition. The bill is not expected to receive any Democratic support. At the same time, Congress must address reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows warrantless surveillance of foreigners abroad and expires June 12.
What the Right Is Saying
Johnson told reporters he expects a third reconciliation bill to move "in the coming weeks," describing it as a vehicle to target "fraud, waste, and abuse in government." He noted Vice President Vance is working on the effort. "The White House has dialed in on this 100%,", Johnson said.
Republican Study Committee Chair August Pfluger (R-Texas) said Republicans are "moving lightning fast" on a third reconciliation bill. "People will always say, 'Oh, you can't do this. You can't do that. There's no way you can pass it by then.' That's fine. We're going to keep our heads down, we're going to work hard, and I feel comfortable getting it done," Pfluger told The Hill.
On FISA, conservative privacy hawks have demanded a permanent central bank digital currency ban and warrant requirements in any extension. Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas), a member of the House Freedom Caucus, said: "We have to permanently ban CBDC. There's no other option." Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) argued for warrant requirements: "I like the Constitution. I just don't think you ought to be able to go after folks without a legitimate search warrant."
What the Left Is Saying
House and Senate Democrats have vowed to oppose any FISA renewal until President Trump withdraws his appointment of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence at the Federal Housing Finance Agency. Senate Democrats, except for Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), blocked a motion last week to begin debate on extending surveillance authorities.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Democrats could not support enhanced surveillance authorities when Pulte could be positioned to use intelligence against Trump's political enemies. "We cannot stand by and vote to authorize enhanced surveillance authorities," Warner stated.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) called Pulte "deeply unserious, deeply dangerous and deeply unqualified." He added: "His supposed elevation as the acting Director of National Intelligence will jeopardize the effort to pass surveillance legislation that was already on life support. Why in the world should Democrats — or any member of Congress — trust Donald Trump, Kash Patel or Bill Pulte with the privacy of the American people?"
What the Numbers Show
The immigration reconciliation package totals $69.5 billion to fund ICE and Border Patrol through 2029. Johnson can only lose two Republican votes in the House, assuming all members are present.
Seven Republicans voted with Senate Democrats against advancing FISA legislation: Sens. Josh Hawley (Mo.), Mike Lee (Utah), Rand Paul (Ky.), Eric Schmitt (Mo.), Rick Scott (Fla.), John Kennedy (La.) and Tommy Tuberville (Ala.).
The Senate passed the immigration bill after an 18-hour marathon session involving debates on amendments including a nearly $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund for those who claimed unfair prosecution under Biden-era DOJ — language not included in the final product.
The Bottom Line
Johnson faces two significant legislative challenges this week. On reconciliation, he must unify his conference after Republicans already missed Trump's self-imposed June 1 deadline while managing attendance issues as lawmakers campaign during primary season.
FISA reauthorization presents a different obstacle entirely — Democrats are using the surveillance program's expiration as leverage against Trump's intelligence appointment. If Johnson cannot secure near-unanimous Republican support for FISA, he may need to pursue a two-thirds fast-track process requiring significant Democratic backing, an unlikely scenario given current opposition.
Reconciliation 3.0 discussions continue with conservatives pushing for defense spending, Iran military funding, health care reform and fraud prevention measures in what would be another party-line spending bill.