U.S. News
House Funding Shift Sparks New Border Security Clash
Clear Facts
- House Republicans passed a 60-day Department of Homeland Security funding bill on Friday.
- The measure aims to restore pay for federal employees and bolster border security enforcement.
- House lawmakers approved the extension 213-203 along party lines.
- President Trump signed a memorandum to restore pay for TSA officers who have worked without compensation since February 14.
- Speaker Mike Johnson rejected the Senate’s “No-ICE” bill and criticized efforts to exclude border enforcement agencies.
The Department of Homeland Security has been without funding for 42 days, leaving thousands of federal employees without paychecks because of the ongoing stalemate.
Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the Senate’s attempt to reopen air travel while neglecting the agencies responsible for national sovereignty and immigration enforcement.
“This gambit that was done last night is a joke,” Johnson told reporters at the Capitol.
“Republicans are going to continue to govern and do the right thing morally, lyrically, legally and politically. We’re going to take care of those who take care of us.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has already signaled opposition to the House plan, labeling the inclusion of immigration enforcement funds as dead on arrival in the upper chamber.
While Democrats push for limits on federal immigration officers, Republicans maintain that any funding must support the law enforcement heroes who keep Americans safe.
“We’ve been trying for weeks to fund the whole thing,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said.
“And, I mean, in the end, this is what they were willing to agree to.”
Thune noted that the current disruption was anticipated a year ago, leading to the pre-loading of advanced funding in previous legislation to ensure enforcement capacity remains active.
“If Democrats in the Congress will not act to honor the service of our TSA officers… then my Administration will take action,” President Trump stated in his directive.
The President determined that the current situation constitutes an emergency that compromises the security of the nation due to the inaction of congressional Democrats.
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