DHS funding bill passes the House, with eroding Democratic support

The House passed a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill Thursday, even as most Democrats defied Republican pressure to end the agency shutdown in light of the Iran conflict.

The lower chamber voted 221-209 to pass the bill. Four Democrats joined Republicans in favor of the measure — fewer than those who voted for an almost identical bill in January. Reps. Henry Cuellar (Texas), Don Davis (N.C.), Jared Golden (Maine), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Wash.) voted with Republicans in favor of funding.

The bill now heads to the Senate, where it will likely be dead on arrival as it will need some Democratic support to overcome a filibuster. Senate Democrats earlier Thursday blocked a DHS funding measure, with only one Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.), voting in favor.

The bill is largely identical to the one that passed the lower chamber in January, before the death of 37-year-old Minneapolis nurse and U.S. citizen Alex Pretti at the hands of immigration agents sparked outrage among Democrats.

Democrats have been demanding that the White House reform its immigration enforcement tactics. The two sides have traded counterproposals, but both have dismissed the other’s as inadequate, leaving negotiations at a standstill. 

Republicans this week moved to quickly put a DHS bill on the floor, citing the heightened threats to the homeland after the U.S. and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran on Feb. 28 in what was the start of the administration’s “Operation Epic Fury.”

House Democratic leadership, meanwhile, had whipped against the bill.

“Donald Trump launches an unauthorized war in the Middle East. He characterizes it as endless. He decides that he wants to spend billions of dollars to bomb Iran, rather than spend taxpayer dollars to lower the grocery bills that are crushing the American people,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said during a press conference this week.

“And then he wants to use his unauthorized war as an excuse to continue spending taxpayer dollars to brutalize or kill American citizens by continuing to unleash ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] without restrictions on the American people. The whole thing is insane. Make it make sense, because it does not,” Jeffries said.  

The vote came shortly after President Trump announced he would replace Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem with Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.).

Jeffries, however, said that wouldn’t soften Democrats’ demands.

“A change in personnel is not sufficient. We need a change in policy,” Jeffries told reporters in the Capitol. 

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), meanwhile, had urged Democrats to back a DHS funding bill. He said he thinks that Democrats see the DHS shutdown as “politically advantageous.”

“It is just a flat-out unwillingness to try and solve this problem or fund the department,” Thune said. “And at some point, something bad is going to happen.”

Al Weaver contributed.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

What we know about Noem’s new ‘Shield of the Americas’ role

Paxton offers conditions for potential exit from Texas Senate race 

Judge orders Trump administration to close out goods without charging emergency ...

Noem defends living on base in Coast Guard housing 

Johnson: ‘Everybody in America better watch’ how lawmakers vote on DHS ...

Watch video from Noem’s controversial $220M ad campaign

Noem replaced as DHS secretary with Oklahoma senator

GOP’s Turner rips Pentagon No. 3 at hearing: ‘Really kind of gross’

RFK Jr. puts Dunkin’ on notice; Massachusetts governor says ‘come and take ...

Fox News poll: Majority says Trump’s handling of Iran has made US less safe

US Postal Service takes another wrong turn

Lindsey Halligan being investigated by Florida Bar

Noem denies blocking investigations, as inspector general says he’s been ...

Senate Democrats block bill to fund DHS, spurning increased GOP pressure

House Republicans sink effort to rein in Trump’s attacks on Iran

Ted Cruz, Tim Scott asking Treasury to approve $200B tax cut without ...

How will Oklahoma replace Markwayne Mullin in Senate?

Live updates: Trump replaces Noem at DHS with Mullin; House votes down war ...

© The Hill