House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing mounting frustration from members of his own party as Republicans express what has been described as a “healthy amount of anger” over his handling of negotiations surrounding funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The criticism follows a series of moves tied to the ongoing partial government shutdown, which has now stretched to 52 days for DHS funding, making it the longest shutdown in U.S. history. The standoff centers on how to pass legislation to restore funding for the department while navigating disagreements among House Republicans, Senate Republicans, and Democrats.
Senate Republicans recently reached a compromise with Democrats to end the shutdown and fund DHS. The agreement would have funded the department but excluded two federal immigration enforcement agencies. However, Johnson quickly rejected the Senate proposal and encouraged House Republicans to oppose it as well.
The situation grew more complicated after Johnson appeared to signal support for the same Senate plan days later. Johnson released a statement that seemed to back the idea of supporting the Senate GOP’s proposal to fund DHS, described as “the very one that the speaker dumped on,” leaving some House Republicans frustrated.
Punchbowl News reported that the shift left many GOP lawmakers feeling exposed after they had already defended Johnson’s earlier position. “What Johnson did, unintentionally, his allies say, was have his House Republican Conference stick their necks out for a negotiating position that he immediately abandoned.
The backlash reportedly extended to some of Johnson’s allies within the party. “Even some of the GOP leadership’s closest allies say they’re furious with Johnson for what they see as a bait-and-switch tactic on the DHS bill. The Main Street Caucus’ text chain was lighting up with frustration.”
The tension within the conference became evident during a nearly three-hour conference call among House Republicans on Friday. During the call, Reported that there was “plenty of bellyaching about the leadership’s strategy,” along with criticism directed at what some lawmakers viewed as “the Senate’s alleged weakness.”
Observers have suggested that Johnson’s earlier rejection of the Senate plan may have been influenced by internal political pressures. An analysis by The Washington Post indicated that the move could have been an effort to “save his own job,” particularly as Johnson seeks to avoid the fate of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
McCarthy was removed from the speakership last year after members of the House Freedom Caucus joined Democrats to oust him. The group of hardline conservatives has remained influential within the Republican conference and has shown a willingness to challenge leadership decisions.
Against that backdrop, Johnson now faces the challenge of balancing negotiations to reopen DHS funding while also managing divisions within his own party.
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