Guide to expectations for DHS funding when the Senate convenes on Monday

House to Vote on DHS Funding Measure

House Republicans are set to introduce their own Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spending bill, according to reports. The Senate is expected to revisit the situation on Monday morning, as the House passed a short-term funding plan for DHS late Friday night.

The Senate session is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., where proceedings are likely to start simply with the pledge and prayer. However, things might not progress as smoothly as anticipated. After these formalities, Republican senators may seek the speaker’s approval.

If they proceed with this, Republicans will aim for unanimous consent to expedite the DHS bill that the House passed. It sounds straightforward, but, crucially, this means all 100 senators must agree.

If any senator objects—be it from either party—the House bill will falter. This dynamic illustrates how the House and Senate diverge on DHS funding. Remarkably, the House didn’t even consider the earlier bill that Senators unanimously approved at 2:19 a.m. on Friday, instead choosing to create its own two-month interim version and passing it swiftly.

Had there been no objections, the issue could have been resolved with both chambers agreeing on the same bill.

Should the Senate accept the House’s proposal, the DHS shutdown could come to an end. Yet, if there are disagreements, the situation remains stagnant. This captures the intricate workings of Congress and the implications of “unanimous consent.” Even if 99 senators support a bill, one objection can block it.

Democrats might propose their own DHS funding measure, but it’s likely that incoming Republican senators would challenge it, hence complicating the process further.

If the Senate does not approve the House bill, it seems unlikely that the DHS situation will be resolved until the mid-April recess ends.

Funding Struggles and Political Opportunities

Republicans are eager to secure funding for DHS, but facing Democratic opposition offers them a strategic advantage. They can argue that this resistance keeps the department stalled and point fingers at Democrats for blocking the House bill.

This strategy could bolster their position leading into the midterm elections, especially with commitments to secure the border. Conversely, if Democrats reject the unanimous consent strategy, they could argue that Republicans share responsibility for the ongoing shutdown and the lengthy TSA lines.