GOP rails against 's--- sandwich' deal as all eyes turn to House to end DHS shutdown

The House is primed to end the record-breaking Homeland Security shutdown, but Republicans are still fuming over a "s--- sandwich" deal from the Senate. 

The Senate again advanced its partial Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill on Thursday after being derailed by a House GOP rebellion. The frustration among House Republicans hasn’t gone anywhere, however, with lawmakers railing against House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., during a members-only call on Thursday afternoon.

The simmering anger comes after Johnson made a swift reversal, spurred by President Donald Trump, and backed Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s, R-S.D., on a two-track approach Wednesday that would pass the Senate’s partial DHS bill while funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in a forthcoming party-line reconciliation package.

A senior GOP aide told Fox News Digital that House Republicans wanted to see action from their Senate counterparts on reconciliation and were frustrated with how the upper chamber handled the DHS deal, which the source said amounted to a "s--- sandwich."

House Republicans are incensed at the Senate plan, which carves out funding for ICE and CBP. Still, the bill is expected to pass with bipartisan support.

"People are mad at Johnson," one source familiar with the call told Fox News.

But for now, House Republicans are in no hurry to return to Washington, D.C., to end the 48-day shutdown. The House is next scheduled to return on April 14. A source familiar with the call told Fox News Digital that leadership is not expected to ask members to return to Washington early to vote on the measure. 

A source told Fox News that there was "a lot of frustration" with the situation.

"Does feel like whiplash," the source said.

"Not happy," another person familiar with the call said. "Not willing to vote for anything that defunds law enforcement absent tangible action from Senate. Thune should call Senate back today."

Some House Republicans argued the chamber must fund the president’s immigration and border security efforts through reconciliation before considering the Senate bill — despite the budget reconciliation process expected to take months.

This viewpoint was expressed by a broad group within the conference, not just the conservative flank, according to a source familiar with the call.

If Johnson proceeded first with the Senate bill, conservative opposition could determine how he brings the legislation to the floor. In the event he lacks conference-wide support for the upper chamber’s partial DHS bill, he could be forced to call up the Senate bill under suspension of House rules.

That strategy — requiring a two-thirds majority to pass — risks upsetting conservatives if the DHS bill relies on Democratic votes to clear the chamber.

House lawmakers could have used the same fast-track process Thursday to pass the DHS bill that was done in the Senate, but opted not to. 

Thune said Thursday that he didn’t know when the House would move on the bill, but noted that when they did, Republicans would begin a sprint to complete the budget reconciliation process.

"My assumption is, at some point, hopefully they'll move it," Thune said. "And you know, [with] the understanding that we're going to come behind it with the Recon bill. I mean, I think this whole — where we are is just a regrettable place." 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's, D-N.Y., demanded that the House GOP immediately take up the bill and accused them of now owning "the longest government shutdown in history." 

"The deep division and dysfunction among House Republicans is needlessly extending the DHS shutdown and hurting federal workers who are missing another paycheck," Schumer said. "The Senate did its work twice to fund key parts of DHS without funding the lawlessness of ICE and Border Patrol."

But Trump has already teed up a counter, and plans to pay DHS employees through an executive order.

"Because the Democrats are fully and 100% committed to the Radical Left Policy of Open Borders and Zero Immigration Enforcement (which will hopefully cost them dearly in the Midterms!), allowing Murderers and Criminals of all types into our Country, totally unchecked and unvetted, I will soon sign an order to pay ALL of the incredible employees at the Department of Homeland Security," Trump said on Truth Social.

Read More : House Republicans furious at Johnson over DHS shutdown, sources say | Fox News

Ivey home from hospital, signs PSC bill

Gov. Kay Ivey returned home Thursday after a medical procedure and two-night hospital stay, her office said.

“Gov. Kay Ivey has returned back to the Governor’s Mansion following her successful procedure at Baptist Medical Center South,” spokeswoman Gina Maiola said Thursday afternoon.

Ivey’s office previously said she’d needed a minor procedure to remove fluid in her lung.

“The fluid that previously pressed against her lung has been 100% percent removed and cleared, and she will have no short or long-term challenges related to this issue,” Maiola said in the update.

“Throughout her two-night stay, she remained engaged in the ongoing legislative process, as well as other regular business and current events.

“… She plans to work from the Mansion (Thursday) afternoon and through the weekend and looks forward to being back at the Capitol next week.”

Lawmakers return to Montgomery Tuesday for the final three days of this legislative session, likely sending dozens of bills to Ivey’s office for her signature.

On Thursday, she signed House Bill 475 to overhaul the state’s Public Service Commission. It expands the commission from three to seven elected members, but Ivey will make four initial appointments. She’ll also appoint an energy secretary, a new cabinet position created in the bill.

“The Alabama Legislature passed HB475 to put a freeze on electric rates and to give the people of Alabama broader representation on the Public Service Commission. I have signed the bill and will look forward to building on my record of strong appointments to the PSC. Alabama is a top 10 state when it comes to cost of living, and we are the number one state for plain affordability. As I have said before, for Alabama to remain the best state to live, work and raise a family, we have to grow the state, while keeping our cost of living low.”

Ivey home from hospital, signs PSC bill - Alabama Daily News