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Last week, Senate Republican leaders attempted to bring up the FY 2026 Homeland Security appropriations bill, along with a resolution to fund the agency and its programs at FY 2025 levels for the remainder of the fiscal year. However, initial procedural votes failed to gain enough support to move forward with consideration of the measures.

After the onset of hostilities in Iran, Republicans began pressuring Democrats to approve funding for the Department of Homeland Security to address the threat of retaliatory terrorist attacks in the U.S. Democrats, however, continue to demand reforms to immigration enforcement as a condition for moving any funding bill in the Senate. So far, negotiations between the White House and congressional Democrats on this issue have been unproductive.

Senate Majority Leader Thune (R-SD) is expected to raise the appropriations bill and the continuing resolution again this week. Meanwhile, House Speaker Johnson (R-LA) has indicated that he will push for a vote on a Homeland Security appropriations bill similar to the version that passed the House last month.