GOP Infighting Erupts Over Homeland Security Funding

Republicans in Congress clash over how to resolve DHS budget impasse amid border security debate.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 12:25pm

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A fractured, abstract painting in red, white, and blue tones depicting a government building or political symbol, conveying a sense of political discord and disunity.The GOP's bitter internal battle over Homeland Security funding highlights deep divisions within the party on immigration policy.Washington Today

Republicans in the House and Senate are engaged in a bitter internal battle over funding the Department of Homeland Security, with the two GOP-controlled chambers taking 'diametrically opposed paths' to address the issue. The dispute has descended into 'bitterness' and 'bickering' as the party struggles to find a resolution amid a partial government shutdown.

Why it matters

The GOP infighting over DHS funding highlights deep divisions within the party on immigration and border security policy, which could have significant political consequences as Republicans brace for a challenging midterm election cycle.

The details

Senate Republicans backed a partial DHS funding bill that would fund non-immigration portions of the department, while pursuing ICE and CBP funding through reconciliation. However, House GOP members rejected this approach 'outright,' accusing the Senate of trying to 'bully' them. In response, the House passed its own 8-week stopgap bill to fund all of DHS, which Senate Democrats have vowed to block.

  • Last week, Senate Republicans backed a partial DHS funding bill.
  • On Friday, House Speaker Mike Johnson rejected any efforts to 'reopen our borders or to stop immigration enforcement.'

The players

Mike Johnson

House Speaker and a Republican representing Louisiana's 4th congressional district.

John Thune

Senate Majority Leader and a Republican representing South Dakota.

Brian Darling

A Republican strategist and former Senate aide.

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What they’re saying

“The Republicans are not going to be part of any effort to reopen our borders or to stop immigration enforcement.”

— Mike Johnson, House Speaker

“One of the reasons I think it was important to get these other agencies funded here is if you try to do it all in reconciliation it implicates a lot of committees of jurisdiction and any time you draw more committees in it gets a lot more complicated.”

— John Thune, Senate Majority Leader

“Thune and Johnson are definitely on different pages. The House is in grave danger of flipping to the Democrats. The Senate is not as much. It's very hard for Democrats to take the Senate. It's possible but it's much harder. It's an uphill battle for Democrats to do that.”

— Brian Darling, Republican strategist and former Senate aide

What’s next

The House and Senate will need to reconcile their opposing funding bills in order to resolve the partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security.

The takeaway

The bitter infighting between House and Senate Republicans over DHS funding reflects the party's deep divisions on immigration and border security policy, which could have significant political consequences as they head into a challenging midterm election cycle.