House Republicans moved to chart a different course than the Senate in efforts to end the partial government shutdown, rejecting a Senate-backed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding measure and pressing for a package that would fully fund immigration enforcement agencies as well as pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers.
What happened
– The Senate passed a short-term DHS funding bill that included pay for TSA agents but excluded funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and some Customs and Border Protection (CBP) components. House GOP leaders and members rejected that approach as insufficient because they want DHS funded “in its entirety,” including ICE and parts of CBP.
– House leadership told members it would pursue alternative options to provide immediate pay for TSA while preserving the demand to include ICE funding. Republicans said they would look to reallocate money from a larger Republican spending/reconciliation package that already included immigration enforcement funding to cover TSA pay.
– Speaker Mike Johnson publicly criticized Senate and Democratic actions earlier in the day. House negotiators and some GOP lawmakers signaled they would not swallow the Senate bill, arguing it failed to meet the conference’s enforcement priorities.
White House and messaging
– Confusion and mixed signals from the White House contributed to the frictions. Reporters said there were backchannel indications earlier that the president might sign the Senate bill; later, the president told Fox News he did not want a spending bill that excluded ICE and CBP funding and indicated support for the House approach.
– House leaders told members the president was on board with the House plan; the shifting signals left both chambers with mismatched expectations and complicated the window for an immediate deal.
TSA pay and funding mechanics
– Republicans indicated they could move to get TSA workers paid by directing funds from the larger Republican package that contains immigration enforcement money. That option has been discussed for days and was presented to members as a way to address immediate payroll concerns while pursuing a broader DHS funding strategy.
Political dynamics and consequences
– The dispute highlights the narrow margins and fragile majorities in both chambers. House Republicans have pressed for immigration-related priorities to be included in stopgap measures; Democrats and some Senate Republicans backed a more limited bill focused on restoring pay for TSA while leaving ICE funding unaddressed.
– A failed or delayed resolution risks prolonging unpaid status for many federal workers and could deepen intra-party tensions. House leaders said they preferred a slower path that secured their priorities rather than accepting the Senate’s text.
Other Hill developments
– Separately, Democrats were grappling with charges against Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick. House Democratic leaders and members said they were waiting for the House Ethics Committee to recommend a course of action after an ongoing inquiry; some Democrats said they could support expulsion if the committee recommends it. Removing a Democratic member would alter narrow House arithmetic and would be seen as a net gain for Speaker Johnson and House Republicans if an expulsion were to occur.
Outlook
– The Senate has left town after passing its measure, complicating immediate cross-chamber action. House Republicans say they will pursue options to both secure TSA pay and insist on funding for ICE and certain CBP components, even if it takes longer than the Senate bill’s timetable. A final outcome depends on whether the White House ultimately signs onto the House approach and whether enough GOP members will back whatever measure leadership brings forward.