House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) revealed on Sunday that several senators have expressed regret regarding their support for a recent Senate bill, which proposed only partial funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) amidst an ongoing departmental shutdown.
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During an appearance on ABC News’s ‘This Week’ with Jonathan Karl, Scalise stated, “Well, we actually read their bill, and, frankly, a number of senators have expressed buyer’s remorse with what they did at three in the morning.” He highlighted a significant concern, noting that the Senate’s proposal would “defund over 25 percent of the baseline operations of the Department of Homeland Security” at a period of elevated national threat levels. According to Scalise, the House has consistently advocated for complete funding, passing four separate bills to ensure the department is fully resourced.
Congressional Gridlock on Departmental Funding
The House’s latest move on Friday saw the passage of a Republican-backed bill aimed at fully funding DHS for an eight-week period. This action came after House GOP leadership rejected a prior Senate bill that notably omitted appropriations for critical immigration enforcement agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol.
The preceding days on Capitol Hill were marked by considerable tension. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) had earlier dismissed a bipartisan Senate agreement that, while funding most of DHS, specifically withheld money for these key immigration operations. Despite this, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) brought the deal to the floor early Friday, where it passed by unanimous consent, signaling a different legislative priority within the upper chamber.
Heightened Scrutiny and Enforcement Concerns
The Department of Homeland Security has faced intensified scrutiny in recent months, largely due to the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Public and political tensions escalated further following an incident in January, where federal immigration authorities were involved in the killing of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis.
Scalise underscored the House’s commitment to ensuring all DHS personnel receive their salaries, even if through a short-term measure. “The one that we sent after the Senate sent over their weak offer, we sent a bill that was short term. It’s not exactly what we want. But at least it allows everybody to get paid,” he concluded, emphasizing the immediate need to resolve the funding impasse and its impact on departmental operations.
