Senate's DHS Funding Deal Crumbles, Leaving GOP in Crisis

Sat Mar 28 2026 14:07:10 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Senate's hopes for a bipartisan deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security before a looming shutdown sharply fell apart, leading to disappointment among leaders and raising tensions within the GOP.

After hours of negotiations, the Senate reached a near-agreement on funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), only to have it publicly denounced by House Speaker Mike Johnson, who called the plan a 'joke.' This unexpected collapse has not only left Congress without a solution to the ongoing partial government shutdown but has also exposed rifts among Republican leaders just as they approach key legislative deadlines. The failure highlights internal divisions as the GOP scrambles to navigate its agenda amid significant party tensions.

WASHINGTON (AP) — In an astonishing turn of events, the Senate's last-minute negotiations to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) fell apart, thrusting Congress into a deeper crisis as the partial government shutdown looms. For a fleeting moment on Friday, it seemed the Senate had struck a deal with bipartisan support, but House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., swiftly denounced the plan as inadequate.

Johnson expressed his frustrations, stating emphatically, I have to protect the House, and I have to protect the American people. His remarks come as Congress heads into a two-week recess with no clear path forward on funding.

The disintegration of this agreement was a blow to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., who spent weeks negotiating terms with Democratic senators, ultimately leading to a compromise that intended to move the funding process forward without directly supporting immigration enforcement agencies like ICE and Border Patrol.

This failure reveals pronounced schisms within the Republican party, particularly between party leaders in the House and Senate, complicating efforts to align on various critical issues as elections approach. Johnson’s objections reflect an ongoing struggle within the GOP to balance the interests of hardline conservatives with those seeking a more pragmatic legislative approach.

With the government shutdown lasting since mid-February, tensions are rising as both parties point fingers at each other for the impasse. They know this is a continuation of the shutdown because the Senate is gone, remarked Rep. Katherine Clark, a top Democratic leader. The question remains: how will the Republicans navigate this turbulence while maintaining control of both chambers?