GOP hits tense moment as Mike Johnson is grilled by his own allies: 'Very concerning'

A split in the Republican Party is worsening as representatives believe they should hold out against a bill approved by the Senate.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson may call on GOP reps to back the bill on funding the Department of Homeland Security. The bill in question excludes funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol officers, a contentious point that some GOP reps feel they cannot back. While the Senate has approved a bill to fund the DHS, the House has yet to agree.

GOP members were reportedly discussing the details of the House concession in a conference call, according to The Hill, which reported the bipartisan deal would split the party.

Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.). said, "It’s very concerning to go ahead and pass the funding bill the Senate passed … and just say we’re going to get it done in reconciliation."

"I mean, we need to have some strong assurances that that actually happens. The Senate obviously put us all in a very awkward position. And, you know, I know that we’re on the side with the president."

Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), suggested some party members would be disgruntled by the decision to pass through the bill, which the Democratic Party refused to back should it include ICE or Border Patrol funding.

"The sequencing matters," Roy said. "A lot of us are not going to be comfortable moving an appropriations bill that does not fund ICE and Border Patrol based on a bet that we’re going to move a reconciliation package."

The GOP has splintered over the bill too, with Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) set to oppose the bill unless it includes the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act.

Trump has made the SAVE Act a top legislative priority, declaring in March 2026 that he will not sign any other bills into law until the SAVE Act reaches his desk.

Rep. Tim Burchett (Tenn.) went on to question whether Johnson can push through with the House on his side. "He's dealt these cards," Burchett said. "He's sitting there with a one-person majority."