House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks with members of the media, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 26, 2026. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
Republicans are furious, and it's no longer the age-old debate between the House and Senate.
Earlier this week, the Republican Party was at war internally over the funding measure for the Department of Homeland Security which passed a week ago and could have been passed and funded the paychecks for TSA agents before April 1. However, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) stopped it, saying he wouldn't even allow the House to vote on it. But on Thursday, Johnson caved.
According to Punchbowl News founder Jake Sherman, Republicans are furious at Johnson, and he described it as "significant anger."
"Johnson and most of his leadership team said the Senate's DHS bill was a joke, incompetence, etc. Now they are being told they have to vote for it. They have forced their conference into a flip-flop of epic proportions," said Sherman.
The more centrist Republicans have been texting Sherman to complain about Johnson and the leadership.
"All the speaker does is appease. He said the SAVE Act provisions would be in reconciliation. He’s a liar. It would not survive the Byrd bath. He’s a snake oil salesman. He will do what Thune tells him to do. He is a good man who has served long enough. We should start considering other options who would benefit the president more in serious negotiations," said one person.
"After days of blowing smoke up our a——, attacking the Senate, sending us home to be stalked by TMZ, and then folding to what was inevitable, the disdain for Mike Johnson and his sheer political incompetence is all that members are talking to each other about. Because even if we miraculously hold the majority, members know this loser is f—— done come November."