Jeffries Urges Johnson to End House Recess Over DHS Funding Gap

Democratic leader calls for immediate action as critical agency faces budget lapse

Apr. 5, 2026 at 6:05pm

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House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) on Sunday demanded that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) reconvene the lower chamber from its current recess to address a lapse in funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Jeffries warned that the funding gap poses a serious threat to national security and public safety, and called for urgent bipartisan action to resolve the issue.

Why it matters

The DHS is a critical federal agency responsible for protecting the homeland from terrorism, managing immigration, and coordinating disaster response. A prolonged funding lapse could hamper the department's ability to carry out its vital missions, potentially leaving the country vulnerable to threats. The political standoff over DHS funding also highlights the ongoing partisan gridlock in Congress.

The details

The current DHS funding authorization expired at the end of the previous fiscal year, and Congress has yet to pass a new appropriations bill to keep the agency operational. Jeffries accused the Republican leadership of abandoning their responsibilities by allowing the House to remain in recess rather than working to resolve the impasse. He called on Johnson to immediately recall lawmakers to Washington to address the funding crisis.

  • The DHS funding authorization expired on September 30, 2025.
  • The House of Representatives is currently in recess.

The players

Hakeem Jeffries

The Democratic Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, representing New York's 8th congressional district.

Mike Johnson

The Republican Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, representing Louisiana's 4th congressional district.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

A federal executive department responsible for public security, including counter-terrorism, border security, immigration enforcement, and disaster response.

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What they’re saying

“We must not allow partisan gridlock to jeopardize our nation's security. Speaker Johnson has a responsibility to bring the House back into session immediately to address this critical funding lapse.”

— Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader

What’s next

If the House does not act quickly to pass a new DHS funding bill, the agency will be forced to furlough thousands of employees and scale back vital operations. The Senate will also need to take up and pass the legislation before it can be signed into law by the President.

The takeaway

This funding impasse underscores the ongoing partisan divisions in Congress that have made it increasingly difficult to address pressing national security and public safety concerns in a timely manner. Resolving the DHS budget crisis will require bipartisan cooperation and a willingness to compromise on both sides of the aisle.