Frequent communication has been maintained between Senator John Thune and Speaker Mike Johnson since the House decisively voted down a Senate-brokered agreement intended to reopen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This ongoing dialogue comes as Republicans struggle to unify their strategy regarding the shutdown.

Shifting Dynamics in the DHS Standoff

The current situation fundamentally alters the political landscape, which had previously framed the dispute as solely a Republican versus Democrat issue. This conflict centers on demands for DHS reform following the deaths of two protesters in Minneapolis at the hands of immigration officers.

Internal GOP Friction Emerges

Democrats contend that Senate Republicans should not expect them to resolve the internal disagreements within the House GOP caucus. A spokesperson for the Senate Minority Leader stated that Democrats would not intervene to fix Republican internal problems.

However, a complete breakdown between Johnson and Thune has not occurred. Both leaders reportedly provided advance notice before their respective chambers brought their funding bills forward. Speaker Johnson sought to deflect blame for the diverging strategies, pointing toward Senate Majority Leader Schumer during a Friday press conference.

Past Cooperation Versus Current Impasse

This current infighting contrasts sharply with months of previous collaboration between Thune and Johnson. The two leaders previously worked in lockstep during a shutdown concerning healthcare and currently meet weekly on Wednesdays to coordinate strategy.

Their past cooperation also extended to navigating the passage of former President Trump’s tax law and handling a dispute over compensating senators surveilled by former Special Counsel Jack Smith. In that instance, Thune successfully inserted language allowing senators, but not House members, to sue for $500,000 in damages, effectively “jamming” the House.

Diverging Legislative Priorities

House Republicans argue that allowing Democrats the option to leave any part of DHS unfunded would establish a detrimental precedent. Conversely, Senate Republicans note that Democrats have consistently rejected the specific funding proposal that the House passed on Friday.

The White House has made concessions regarding ICE reforms, but these have proven insufficient to resolve the deadlock with Democrats. Adding pressure, both chambers are now beginning a two-week recess, meaning the shutdown, which has already set a record at 45 days, risks extending beyond two months.

Related Legislative Battles

Adding complexity to the situation is the stalled SAVE America Act, an election bill passed by the House that remains blocked in the Senate due to the filibuster. Speaker Johnson championed this bill through the House in February and has since joined President Trump in advocating for it.

Johnson previously criticized the legislative compromise brokered by Senate Republicans, though he avoided directly criticizing Thune by name. This compromise related to the SAVE America Act, which Trump has called for pairing with funding for the war in Iran and potentially other elements, utilizing the reconciliation process to bypass Democratic resistance.

Intraparty Sniping and Worker Impact

The party is currently engaged in internal criticism regarding the next steps. House conservatives complained that Republicans failed to attempt passing their funding patch via unanimous consent during a Monday pro forma session.

The shutdown has severely impacted airport operations, causing wait times to spike as hundreds of employees called out sick. In response, former President Trump stated on Sunday that he would unilaterally cover Transportation Security Administration workers “as long as we need to,” suggesting Republicans might avoid the worst effects of internal fighting.