Speaker Mike Johnson: ‘Not my preference’ to split DHS funding bill

Speaker Mike Johnson signaled reluctance Tuesday to split DHS funding into separate bills, even as Senate Republicans propose moving immigration removal operations through the budget reconciliation process instead. The approach would fund most of the Department of Homeland Security—including the TSA—through regular appropriations while carving out immigration enforcement for the faster, party-line reconciliation route. Johnson's preference for keeping DHS funding intact reflects broader tensions over how Republicans handle immigration policy during the appropriations process. The reconciliation strategy would allow Republicans to advance immigration measures with a simple majority, bypassing Democratic input, but risks fragmenting the DHS budget into competing legislative vehicles. The dispute underscores disagreement within the GOP over whether to use the reconciliation tool—typically reserved for tax and spending changes—for immigration priorities.