House Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday condemned a Senate Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill, accusing Democrats of holding government funding “hostage” to advance what he called a “radical, crazy” immigration agenda. Johnson vowed that House Republicans will not support any plan that stops the deportation of criminal illegal immigrants or reopens the U.S. borders.
Johnson held a two-hour conference call with House Republicans, affirming their unified position to fully fund DHS and end the partial government shutdown that has disrupted air travel and federal operations. He criticized Senate Democrats for tying DHS funding to restrictions on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Border Patrol.
“They want to reopen the borders, and they want to stop the deportation of dangerous criminal illegal aliens,” Johnson said. “We have to do these basic functions of government.”
The Senate recently advanced a bill that funds most of DHS but excludes funding for ICE and Border Patrol, triggering Republican opposition. Senate Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urged House Republicans to pass the bipartisan bill to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents and alleviate airport delays caused by the shutdown.
Democrats have refused to fully fund DHS unless Republicans agree to new immigration enforcement restrictions, a standoff that has prolonged the shutdown since February. The impasse follows heightened tensions after separate fatal shootings by federal agents during immigration raids in Minnesota.
Johnson called the late-night Senate deal “a joke,” criticizing Democrats for attempting to force the bill through with little notice before a holiday recess. He emphasized that House Republicans plan to propose a continuing resolution to maintain current DHS funding levels, excluding restrictions on immigration enforcement.
In the face of growing pressure as TSA agents resign and airport lines swell, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to pay TSA workers amid the ongoing shutdown, which Congress has not yet resolved.
Why it matters
The DHS funding deadlock fuels an ongoing partial government shutdown affecting transportation security and border enforcement, raising concerns about public safety and operational continuity. The standoff highlights deep partisan divisions over immigration policy and government spending, with significant impacts on air travel and federal agency staffing.
Background
The partial federal government shutdown began in February after disputes over immigration enforcement funding escalated. Democratic lawmakers have demanded restrictions on ICE and Border Patrol activities, particularly following controversial raids and shootings in Minnesota. Republicans, led by Speaker Johnson, insist on full DHS funding without conditions that limit deportations or border security operations.
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