In a close 213–203 vote, House Republicans on Friday rejected a bipartisan Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill that had cleared the Senate, instead advancing their own proposal and extending a shutdown that has now stretched to 42 days.
After the vote, lawmakers left Washington for a two-week recess, leaving little immediate hope for resolving the standoff. Speaker Mike Johnson and House Republicans backed a plan to fund DHS for an additional eight weeks, including new funding for border enforcement—money that was not part of the Senate’s bipartisan agreement.
The House move effectively blocks the Senate bill, which had support from both Democrats and Republicans but excluded funding for immigration enforcement agencies such as ICE. That omission became a central point of disagreement for House Republicans and former President Donald Trump, who publicly criticized the Senate measure and argued that any deal must include support for law enforcement.
The dispute underscores a growing divide between House and Senate Republicans. Johnson pushed back against the Senate’s approach, saying it failed to address key priorities, while some GOP lawmakers privately admitted the strategy carries political risks, especially with no clear path to force Senate Democrats to accept the House version.
Republicans also urged the Senate to return from recess and consider their proposal. Meanwhile, Trump has taken steps to ease some effects of the shutdown, including efforts to fund Transportation Security Administration workers through executive action.
Democrats, led by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, continue to support the Senate bill, arguing it already has enough backing to pass and reopen DHS quickly. However, with both chambers at odds and negotiations stalled, the shutdown appears likely to continue with no immediate resolution in sight.
