GOP senators open to splitting off DHS funding to pass other key spending bills

Source: The Hill

01/28/26 4:25 PM ET


A group of Republican senators is open to splitting the Homeland Security appropriations measure off from a six-bill government funding package that needs to pass by Friday to avoid a partial government shutdown that would affect the Pentagon and other major departments.

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said “a bunch” of Republican senators would be willing to set aside the Homeland Security appropriations bill in hopes of saving five other appropriations bills covering the departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, Labor, Education, Transportation, State and financial services-related agencies.

“Sen. Thune can’t admit it because he’s got to act like a tough guy and the White House is negotiating and all of that, but most of you have been around here for a while and most of us have seen this vampire movie before,” Kennedy told reporters Wednesday.

“I think the Democrats don’t want to vote for a Homeland Security bill,” he added. “If that’s the case, then what are our choices? To throw out all the bills? Or one?” “I think a rational person would say let’s pass what we can and work on the others,” Kennedy said.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5711426-gop-senators-dhs-funding-bills/

---

If they DO do that, then the split-off bill would have to go BACK to the House for passage and Little Mikie has the House in recess until next week.