U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) departs the House floor, following the vote of the U.S. House of Representatives, which passed the bill seeking to release files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein (REUTERS)
Republicans have relented just 24 hours after Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) lambasted the Senate funding bill he refused to let members vote on last week.
The Senate passed a funding measure for the Department of Homeland Security on Friday, last week, and Johnson rejected it swiftly. DHS workers would have been paid by April 1.
Punchbowl News' CEO Anna Palmer and founder Jake Sherman discussed the decision by Johnson to back down, noting that as recently as yesterday, he was attacking the Senate bill as a plan from Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.).
"It took them an extra five days, but Speaker Mike Johnson caved to Senate Majority Leader John Thune's (R-S.D.) plan to end the DHS shutdown. It's amazing what a little bit of time and a Truth Social post from Donald Trump can do to change where certain lawmakers are on policy," said Palmer.
Sherman noted that Johnson was calling the bill "irresponsible. ... And now he's for it. That's a complete — that is a flip. That is a flop. That is a, I don't know if it's a cave, but it's an absolute change in position."
Palmer also noted that it's going to cause some problems because the reauthorization of the FISA, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, is coming up on April 20. Lawmakers aren't set to return again until April 16. So, Johnson would have to call all members back to vote on the funding bill. That may not happen until after the holy holidays over the weekend.
Sherman said that the DHS funding likely can't be handled at the same time as the FISA reauthorization.
"I agree, if this happens during FISA week, they're screwed," he said about the "hard-lined right" not approving of either bill.
He explained that the White House wants a separate budget bill by June 1 that is wrapped around funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs (ICE) and Border Protection (CBP). Both departments received considerable funding through the "Big, Beautiful Bill," meaning the agents have been paid throughout the DHS shutdown, while other departments like TSA and the Secret Service are not.
"Good luck," Sherman said about the White House getting what it wants on the budget reconciliation bill. "This will be the last train out of the station."
He also said that there are so many other things that Republicans want to be funded ahead of the election, like the healthcare that was cut in the "Big, Beautiful Bill." Lawmakers might also want to fold in some defense spending and Trump has asked for $200 billion to pay for the war in Iran.
The bill that the GOP has agreed to could have passed in the Senate three weeks ago, Democrats allege.
Sherman seemed dubious that it could work. There are 215 days until Election Day 2026.