Republican Senate leaders announced on Tuesday their intention to bypass Democrats in the protracted dispute over Department of Homeland Security funding, aiming to secure as much as $70 billion for immigration enforcement unilaterally.
After months of failing to resolve the DHS shutdown, Republicans are now planning to reopen the government by omitting the contentious funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and border patrol that Democrats have refused to support. This new funding proposal would ensure these agencies are funded through the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term — eliminating the need to negotiate with Democrats, who could regain control of at least one legislative chamber after November’s elections.
GOP leaders in both the House and Senate intend to employ a complex budgetary strategy to pass the divisive immigration funding without Democratic votes.
They unveiled the initial phase of this process — the draft of a Senate budget resolution — on Tuesday morning. This sets the stage for a Senate vote on the measure later this week. If successful, the House plans swift consideration thereafter.
However, success is not guaranteed. Passing legislation in this manner, known as reconciliation, is an arduous undertaking, requiring nearly unanimous Republican cooperation across both chambers to proceed.
Republicans also face pressure to act quickly: House Speaker Mike Johnson signaled Tuesday that he would not approve any partial DHS funding package until it is clear that ICE and border patrol will not be left without funds. (This contrasts sharply with the approach of Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who advanced a partial funding bill weeks prior, sparking considerable GOP discontent.)
“The sequencing is important. We’ve got to make sure that we don’t isolate and as I say, ‘orphan’ key agencies of the department,” Johnson stated, referring to ICE and border patrol. “And there’s some concern on our side that if you do the bulk of the department first before that and they could be left out.”
Once the Senate officially introduces its budget resolution, it will likely lead to an extended, all-night voting session for senators, termed a “vote-a-rama.” This event is anticipated to occur later this week.