Senate Republicans are done playing games. After unnecessarily yielding to the demands of Democrats, Chuck Schumer and his party made a complete turnaround on funding. The split DHS funding bill that supports almost the entire agency, excluding ICE and Border Patrol, was also something the Democrats desired. Suddenly, this was insufficient, prompting Trump to issue a directive to compensate TSA agents through last year’s tax cut legislation, while Democrats pushed the funding bill through via voice vote before departing from the Capitol. Naturally, they were aware that the House GOP was not in favor of this action, resulting in internal party grievances alongside the ongoing institutional rivalry.
There was a ceremonial session today, during which Senate Republicans could have attempted to advance the House’s 60-day continuing resolution, but the Democrats were ready for them. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) was poised in his dimly lit office, prepared to challenge the unanimous consent. While the GOP held firm on matters concerning ICE’s de-masking or judicial warrants, the Democrats succeeded in postponing decisions for another two weeks. With the Democrats resisting GOP initiatives, there is speculation that when the Senate reconvenes after the Easter break, they will allocate funding for the entire DHS, including ICE and Border Patrol, for three years, without any negotiations through reconciliation:
? JUST IN: The Senate GOP is reportedly DONE negotiating with Democrats and will move to fund ICE for THREE YEARS in budget reconciliation, which only needs 50 votes and JD Vance
"We're taking this off the table." — Sen. Hoeven
They should just NUKE THE FILIBUSTER and be FULLY… https://t.co/aLgoXgHf1N pic.twitter.com/K0UFJDai0Y
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 30, 2026
First, I’ll believe it when I see it. Senate Republicans aren’t known for these ‘go for the jugular’ moves, and John Thune usually doesn’t fit that mold. If this does come to fruition, I will do somersaults, though I’d rather see us nuke the legislative filibuster to pass this bill and the SAVE Act. Second, do they have the votes? Because Thom Tillis, Lisa Murkowski, Mitch McConnell, and John Curtis could be a problem.
Now look, all of this can be laid at the feet of Democrats. They are the ones who caused Schumer Shutdown 1.0 and they are responsible for this one. It’s all being done to preen to their increasingly left-wing base, and it’s obvious that to engage in the preening, they don’t care how many Americans they have to hurt to do it.
But the fact that we can’t get 75-25 and 80-20 issues passed with a GOP-controlled Congress and the White House because ancient RINOs are clinging to a stupid, outdated rule is insane. If they can’t deliver, they have to be primaried, defeated, and removed from Congress. Enough, already.
