House passes DHS bill third time as Senate's 'last and final' offer fails to break deadlock

WASHINGTON, DC: The House of Representatives has once again approved legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security through September, marking the third such effort in recent weeks.

Lawmakers, on Thursday, March 26, passed the measure in a 218-206 vote, with a small number of Democrats crossing party lines in support.

However, despite repeated action in the House, the path forward remains uncertain as the Senate struggles to reach a bipartisan agreement.

House passes DHS funding with Republicans largely united

The latest vote saw Republicans united in favor of the funding bill, joined by four Democrats, while the rest of the Democratic caucus opposed it.

Just before passing the legislation, the House also approved a separate, nonbinding resolution expressing support for fully funding DHS.

That measure passed 225-187, with nine Democrats voting alongside Republicans and several others choosing to vote 'present'.

Republican leaders used the vote to draw a sharp contrast, effectively putting Democrats on record against the funding proposal.

The move comes as disruptions linked to the shutdown continue to ripple across the country, particularly at airports where staffing shortages have become increasingly visible.

The resolution adopted by the House also pushed back against Democratic proposals to fund select agencies individually, such as the Transportation Security Administration, FEMA and the Coast Guard.

Lawmakers backing the resolution argued that splitting funding would weaken coordination across the department and create uncertainty at a time of heightened security concerns.

Senate talks stall as pressure builds

While the House has acted repeatedly, the situation in the Senate remains unresolved.

Negotiations are ongoing, with lawmakers working behind closed doors to break the impasse before a scheduled two-week recess.

Senate Republicans, led by John Thune, have described their latest proposal as a "last and final" offer.

Democrats, however, are continuing to push for additional limits on Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a sticking point that has complicated efforts to reach consensus.

House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated that even if the Senate reaches a deal, its fate in the House is far from guaranteed.

When asked whether a potential compromise, particularly one that separates certain enforcement functions from broader DHS funding, would pass, Johnson responded cautiously: “We’ll have to see.”

He suggested that Republicans are not aligned on supporting a piecemeal approach and termed Democrats' actions "shameful"

“We have never been in favor of breaking the bill up,” Johnson said, hinting that alternative legislative routes, such as reconciliation, might need to be considered if such a proposal moves forward.