Republican Nancy Mace tears into John Thune as 'thorn in the side' over Senate DHS betrayal

WASHINGTON, DC: Divisions within the Republican Party came into sharp focus on Sunday, March 29, as Rep Nancy Mace (R-SC) publicly criticized Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) over a partial funding measure passed in the Senate.

Speaking on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’, Mace said Thune’s approach to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding standoff has created friction within the party at a critical time.

The disagreement centers on a Senate proposal passed early Friday that funds select DHS components, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), FEMA, and the Coast Guard, while excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). 

House Republican leadership has opposed the measure, arguing for full departmental funding.

Senate's midnight surrender sparks House revolt

The Senate measure was approved by voice vote in the early hours of Friday, shortly before lawmakers departed for a scheduled recess.

The proposal was aimed at restoring operations at airports and disaster response agencies amid a prolonged funding lapse that has affected DHS for over six weeks.

However, several House Republicans, including Mace and members of the Freedom Caucus, opposed the bill’s limited scope.

Mace said the Senate’s decision to separate immigration enforcement funding from other DHS functions was unacceptable, and backed House Speaker Mike Johnson's decision not to take up the proposal.

Johnson has also criticized the Senate approach, arguing that breaking up DHS funding weakens overall operations. House Republicans instead passed a separate stopgap bill to fund all DHS components through May 22.

The standoff has extended the partial shutdown of DHS beyond 42 days, affecting multiple agencies and federal employees.

Trump demands end to the Senate filibuster

President Donald Trump also weighed in on the dispute, criticizing the Senate proposal and urging Republicans to pursue a different legislative path.

In remarks to Fox News, Trump called for ending the Senate filibuster rule to allow passage of a broader DHS funding bill that includes immigration provisions such as the SAVE America Act.

While Thune has expressed support for parts of the administration’s agenda, his decision to advance a narrower funding measure has drawn criticism from some House Republicans and White House allies, who argue it reduces negotiating leverage.

The House-passed funding bill now faces opposition in the Senate, where Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has indicated it will not advance in its current form.