WASHINGTON – After 73 days of a partial budget stalemate, the U.S. House of Representatives is preparing to introduce a new funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security as the bipartisan deadlock remains unresolved.
House Speaker Mike Johnson stated that Republicans will pursue a new version of the bill instead of passing the plan previously proposed by the Senate.
According to Mr. Johnson, the Senate's text contained several “problematic” drafting issues, even though the substance did not change significantly. He emphasized the need to ensure immigration laws are enforced and the border remains secure.
Previously, the Senate passed a budget proposal for the Department of Homeland Security but excluded funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This stemmed from disagreements with Democrats, who demanded major reforms such as restricting facial coverings for enforcement officers and tightening legal procedures.
In this context, Republican lawmakers plan to use the budget reconciliation process in the Senate to bypass the 60-vote threshold and continue funding these two agencies.
Financial pressure is mounting as the Department of Homeland Security faces the risk of running out of funds shortly. According to the Secretary of Homeland Security, payroll costs reach approximately $1.6 billion every two weeks, and emergency funds are nearly exhausted.
Furthermore, the urgency has become more apparent following a shooting at a press event last weekend, making the issue of security agency funding even more sensitive in Congress.
The House is expected to consider the next steps this week, as lawmakers face a packed schedule before a recess until mid-May.
