Trump-Backed DHS Plan Takes Step Forward In Bid To Sidestep Democrats

Most of the Department of Homeland Security could reopen pending a House vote, as Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced Wednesday that they will go ahead with the Senate-approved plan and fund ICE and Border Patrol through a separate reconciliation bill.

President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social that he wants to fund the two agencies through reconciliation, as that would not require Democratic votes.

“We appreciate and share the President’s determination to once and for all bring an end to the Democrat DHS shutdown,” Johnson and Thune said in a joint statement.

“In the coming days, Republicans in the Senate and House will be following through on the President’s directive by fully funding the entire Department of Homeland Security on two parallel tracks: through the appropriations process and through the reconciliation process,” the leaders added.

The move could effectively limit the Democrats’ ability to successfully negotiate for any federal immigration policy reforms, which is why the shutdown began in the first place.

House and Senate Republicans were at odds last week over the best path forward: the Senate approved a funding plan that did not include ICE or Border Patrol, whereas the House approved a 60-day temporary funding plan, known as a continuing resolution, that would fully fund DHS until May 22.

House Democrats wanted the House to approve the Senate plan, so all but three voted against the continuing resolution.

However, not all Republicans are on board with the suggested plan on Wednesday.

“Funding for ICE and CBP must never be separated from DHS funding,” Rep. Keith Self (R-TX) posted to X. “If Republicans isolate it, they’re handing our border and ICE agents straight to the radicals who will defund and dismantle them every chance they get.”

“Fund DHS fully, or the open borders globalists win,” Self added.