Senate Republicans Seek to Fund DHS Without Democratic Support

This package, which could pass without Democratic support, seeks to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the next three years. Republican senators want to ensure funding for key agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Coast Guard for the remainder of President Trump's term. They are concerned that Democrats will try to use Homeland Security funding as leverage to extract concessions from the Trump administration, and that another funding showdown is likely if Democrats win the House in the 2026 midterm elections.

Senator John Hoeven (R-S.D.), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, told reporters that reconciliation is being worked on and that a bill funding DHS for three years will be sent to the House. Hoeven emphasized the Republicans' determination to avoid another confrontation with the Democrats on this issue.

Reconciliation is a process that allows a party controlling the House, Senate, and White House to sidestep the Senate filibuster and pass legislation strictly along party lines. Republicans used this mechanism to pass Trump's bill last year. Hoeven explained that Republicans have made multiple concessions to Democrats to reach a funding agreement for Homeland Security, including ICE and CBP, for the rest of 2026, but Democrats repeatedly rejected those offers.

The senator noted that despite concessions and negotiation efforts, the Democrats remained firm. He mentioned that the administration changed leadership at DHS, sent Tom Homan to de-escalate the situation, and included improvements such as body cameras and more training in the legislation. However, the Democrats stuck to their position, apparently seeking a shutdown, according to Hoeven.

Democrats have insisted on a 10-point list of reforms in exchange for funding ICE and the Border Patrol. These reforms included requirements such as federal immigration officers obtaining judicial warrants when entering private homes and a general ban on immigration officers wearing masks. The Senate on Friday passed by unanimous consent a bill to fund all of the Department of Homeland Security except for ICE and Border Patrol.

However, the legislation was rejected by House conservatives, who pressured Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to instead pass a 60-day stopgap funding measure for the entire department, including ICE and CBP. This rejection and the differing positions between both chambers further complicate the political landscape surrounding border and national security funding.