House Speaker Mike Johnson Signals Senate DHS Funding Bill Must Change as Shutdown Enters Third Month
Washington, DC — House Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated that the Senate’s recently passed $140 billion funding bill for U.S. Immigration enforcement agencies will require significant revisions before it can advance in the lower chamber, prolonging a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that has now stretched into its third month. The impasse centers on deep partisan divisions over immigration policy and accountability for the fatal shooting of two U.S. Citizens by federal agents during a January immigration operation in Minneapolis.
The Senate’s budget resolution, approved early Thursday in a 50-48 vote along near-party lines, allocates up to $140 billion to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) through the end of President Donald Trump’s term. The funding would end a shutdown that has left the two agencies operating without full appropriations since mid-February, but Democrats and a handful of Republicans have opposed the measure, citing concerns over the agencies’ conduct and the lack of reforms following the Minneapolis incident.
In a statement released late Friday, Johnson (R-La.) said the Senate’s proposal “falls short of the accountability and policy changes needed to restore public trust” in DHS operations. While he did not specify which provisions would need to be altered, his remarks suggest the House GOP is preparing to push for stricter oversight measures, including potential investigations into the Minneapolis shootings and reforms to use-of-force policies within ICE and CBP. The statement marks the first public indication that the House may not accept the Senate’s version of the bill, further complicating efforts to resolve the funding stalemate.
The DHS shutdown, now the longest in the department’s 21-year history, has left thousands of federal employees furloughed or working without pay, disrupted immigration court proceedings, and strained border security operations. The impasse has as well become a flashpoint in the 2026 midterm elections, with both parties accusing the other of prioritizing politics over national security.
The Senate’s Funding Plan: What’s in the Bill?
The Senate’s budget resolution, advanced through the budget reconciliation process to avoid a Democratic filibuster, sets a total funding cap of $140 billion for ICE and CBP, with $70 billion allocated to each agency. The resolution directs the Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Judiciary Committee to draft final legislation by June 1, a deadline set by the White House to avoid further disruptions to DHS operations.
Key provisions of the resolution include:
- Full funding for ICE and CBP through September 30, 2028, the end of Trump’s term.
- No new restrictions on enforcement activities, including deportations and border patrols.
- No explicit reforms to use-of-force policies or accountability measures for agents involved in the Minneapolis shootings.
The resolution’s lack of accountability measures has been a major sticking point for Democrats. In January, ICE agents shot and killed Renee Quality and Alex Pretti, two U.S. Citizens, during a raid in Minneapolis targeting undocumented immigrants. The incident sparked nationwide protests and calls for federal investigations into ICE’s use of force. While the Justice Department launched a civil rights inquiry into the shootings, no charges have been filed against the agents involved, and the Senate’s funding bill does not include provisions to address the fallout from the incident.
Senate Republicans, led by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), have defended the resolution as a necessary step to fund critical immigration enforcement operations. “The American people expect us to secure the border and enforce our laws,” Graham said in a statement. “This funding is long overdue, and Democrats’ obstruction is putting our national security at risk.”
House GOP Pushes for Changes: What’s Next?
Johnson’s statement signals that the House is unlikely to accept the Senate’s version of the bill without significant revisions. While he did not outline specific changes, House Republicans have previously called for:
- An independent investigation into the Minneapolis shootings, separate from the ongoing DOJ probe.
- Mandatory body-worn cameras for ICE and CBP agents during enforcement operations.
- Stricter reporting requirements for use-of-force incidents involving federal immigration agents.
- Provisions to address what Republicans describe as “sanctuary city” policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
House Republicans have also expressed frustration with the Senate’s use of the budget reconciliation process, which allows bills to pass with a simple majority and avoids the 60-vote threshold needed to overcome a filibuster. Some GOP lawmakers argue that the process is being exploited to bypass bipartisan negotiations, while others have called for a more comprehensive funding package that includes border wall construction and stricter asylum policies.
“The Senate’s ‘skinny’ funding bill is a band-aid solution that fails to address the root causes of our broken immigration system,” said Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), a member of the House Freedom Caucus. “We need real reforms, not just a blank check for agencies that have lost the trust of the American people.”
Democrats, meanwhile, have vowed to oppose any funding bill that does not include accountability measures for ICE and CBP. “We cannot reward these agencies with billions of dollars while they continue to operate with impunity,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “The American people deserve answers about what happened in Minneapolis, and they deserve a commitment to reform.”
Impact of the Shutdown: Who Is Affected?
The partial shutdown of DHS has had far-reaching consequences, affecting not only federal employees but also immigrants, travelers, and communities across the country. Key impacts include:
- Federal Employees: Approximately 180,000 DHS employees, including ICE and CBP agents, have been working without pay or have been furloughed since mid-February. While essential personnel, such as Border Patrol agents, continue to work, many non-essential employees have been sent home, leading to backlogs in processing immigration applications and security clearances.
- Immigration Courts: The shutdown has delayed thousands of immigration court hearings, exacerbating an already massive backlog of cases. As of April 2026, more than 2.5 million immigration cases are pending nationwide, according to data from the U.S. Courts. The shutdown has further slowed the processing of asylum claims, work permits, and deportation orders.
- Border Security: While CBP has maintained border security operations, the shutdown has disrupted training programs, equipment maintenance, and intelligence-sharing efforts. Some border communities have reported increased delays at ports of entry, affecting cross-border trade and travel.
- Local Communities: The shutdown has strained relationships between federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement agencies, particularly in so-called “sanctuary cities” that limit cooperation with ICE. Some cities, including Chicago and New York, have reported a decline in ICE arrests and deportations, while others have seen protests and legal challenges to federal enforcement actions.
The shutdown has also had a ripple effect on other federal agencies that rely on DHS for funding or coordination. For example, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has reported delays in disaster response planning, while the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has faced staffing shortages at airports.
What Happens Next?
The House and Senate are now on a collision course over the DHS funding bill, with both chambers unlikely to accept the other’s version without significant changes. The next steps in the process include:
- House Committee Action: The House Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees are expected to draft their own version of the funding bill in the coming weeks. This version is likely to include the accountability measures and policy changes sought by Johnson and other House Republicans.
- Negotiations: If the House passes its version of the bill, the two chambers will need to reconcile their differences in a conference committee. This process could accept weeks or even months, given the deep partisan divisions over immigration policy.
- White House Involvement: President Trump has set a June 1 deadline for Congress to pass a final funding bill. The White House has not yet indicated whether Trump would sign the Senate’s version of the bill or veto it if it lacks the House’s proposed reforms. In a statement last week, the White House said the president “remains committed to securing the border and holding federal agencies accountable for their actions.”
- Potential Government Shutdown: If Congress fails to pass a funding bill by the June 1 deadline, the DHS shutdown could extend into the summer, further disrupting federal operations and increasing pressure on lawmakers to reach a compromise.
The next scheduled action in the process is a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on May 5, where lawmakers are expected to discuss potential reforms to ICE and CBP operations. The hearing will feature testimony from DHS officials, immigration advocates, and law enforcement experts.
Key Takeaways
- The Senate passed a $140 billion funding bill for ICE and CBP, but House Speaker Mike Johnson says it will need significant changes before the House can consider it.
- The impasse centers on partisan divisions over immigration policy and accountability for the fatal shooting of two U.S. Citizens by ICE agents in Minneapolis in January.
- The DHS shutdown, now in its third month, has left thousands of federal employees without pay, disrupted immigration court proceedings, and strained border security operations.
- House Republicans are pushing for reforms to use-of-force policies and independent investigations into the Minneapolis shootings, while Democrats oppose funding the agencies without accountability measures.
- The next major checkpoint is a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on May 5, where lawmakers will discuss potential reforms to ICE and CBP operations.
What Readers Can Do
For those seeking more information or wishing to engage with the issue, here are some verified resources:
- Official Updates: The latest developments on the DHS funding bill can be tracked through the Congress.gov website, which provides real-time updates on legislative activity.
- Immigration Court Backlog: Data on the immigration court backlog is available from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at Syracuse University.
- DHS Operations: Information on DHS operations and the impact of the shutdown can be found on the department’s official website.
- Public Comments: Readers can share their views on the funding bill with their elected representatives through the House of Representatives and Senate websites.
The ongoing DHS funding crisis underscores the deep divisions in Washington over immigration policy and the challenges of governing in an era of heightened partisanship. As the June 1 deadline approaches, the stakes could not be higher for federal employees, immigrants, and communities across the country. We will continue to monitor this story and provide updates as new developments emerge.
What are your thoughts on the DHS funding impasse? Should Congress prioritize accountability for ICE and CBP, or focus on securing the border? Share your views in the comments below and join the conversation.