House Approves Short-Term DHS Funding Bill Through May

House Approves Short-Term DHS Funding Bill Through May

The House of Representatives narrowly passed a bill late Friday night to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through May 22. The vote, 213-203, saw three House Democrats join all Republicans in support of the measure. The bill fully funds DHS agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), marking a sharp contrast to the Senate’s earlier proposal, which excluded funding for these agencies.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) dismissed the Senate’s proposal as a 'joke,' emphasizing the importance of securing border enforcement resources in any funding package.

The Senate’s version, passed earlier Friday, aimed to fund DHS through September 30 but omitted funding for ICE and CBP, a move that House Republicans vehemently opposed. Senate Republicans had planned to address these agencies separately through reconciliation, relying solely on GOP votes. Senate Democrats, meanwhile, have signaled their opposition to the House’s short-term bill, creating a stalemate as the Senate begins a two-week recess.

The House’s decision to pass an eight-week stopgap underscores the deepening rift between House and Senate Republicans over border security priorities. With the DHS shutdown now in its second month, the path forward remains uncertain as lawmakers grapple with balancing fiscal responsibility and operational needs.

What comes next hinges on whether the Senate will reconvene to address the House-passed bill or continue to push for its own version, leaving DHS funding in limbo.