GOP Lawmakers Regret Newly Proposed DHS Shutdown Bill

House Majority Leader warns some Republican senators are unhappy with the bill's details.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 6:12pm

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The Republican Party has been left in disarray over a recently proposed bill to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) warned that some GOP Senate lawmakers have expressed 'buyer's remorse' over the bill, which they say could defund over 25% of DHS baseline operations. Democrats in the House have expressed support for the bill, but it still needs to pass the Senate.

Why it matters

The DHS shutdown has caused significant disruptions, with impacts on agencies like the TSA. The new bill aims to resolve the impasse, but internal divisions within the Republican Party threaten to derail the effort, potentially prolonging the shutdown.

The details

The House has proposed a short-term bill to fully fund the DHS and get all agencies, including the TSA, paid. However, Scalise said some Republican senators have concerns that the bill could defund over 25% of DHS baseline operations. Democrats in the House support the new bill, but it still needs to pass the Senate.

  • The House stayed later than scheduled to take up the new DHS funding bill and sent it to the Senate.
  • The Senate now has the bill and must decide how to proceed.

The players

Steve Scalise

House Majority Leader (R-LA) who warned that some Republican senators have expressed 'buyer's remorse' over the newly proposed DHS funding bill.

Andy Kim

Democratic Senator (D-NJ) who said the House could have taken up the Senate's previous bill instead of proposing a new one.

Nancy Mace

Republican Representative (R-SC) who was left embarrassed after speaking about details of the DHS funding bill on a CNN panel.

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What they’re saying

“Well we actually read their bill and, frankly, a number of senators have expressed buyer's remorse with what they did at 3 in the morning.”

— Steve Scalise, House Majority Leader (R-LA)

“Instead, Speaker Johnson again chose to leave town and not actually take up the bill that could get passed through.”

— Andy Kim, Senator (D-NJ)

What’s next

The Senate must now decide how to proceed with the new DHS funding bill proposed by the House. If they pass it, it would then go to President Biden for signature to end the shutdown.

The takeaway

The DHS shutdown has exposed deep divisions within the Republican Party, with some lawmakers already regretting the details of the newly proposed bill. This internal discord threatens to further prolong the shutdown and its impacts on critical government agencies and services.