‘Republicans handcuffed themselves’: House GOP facing ‘big problems’ of their own making

With the Senate having passed a bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) early Friday morning, the package now makes its way to the House, though Republicans are expected to face an uphill battle of their own making, per Punchbowl News founder Jake Sherman.

In a “near-empty chamber” at around 3 a.m. Friday morning, the Senate approved a bill to fund most of DHS, including the Transportation Security Administration, which has remained unfunded since February, causing major airport staffing shortages and disruptions for travelers. A House rule adopted by Republicans early last year, however, may have crippled the chamber’s ability to advance the bill any further.

“The House is going to have big problems moving the DHS funding bill today,” Sherman wrote Friday in a social media post on X. “In the rules for the 119th Congress, House Republicans handcuffed themselves. The majority can not move bills under suspension of the rules on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.”

Suspension of the rules is a legislative shortcut for fast-tracking the passage of bills, allowing the House to bypass amendments and limit debate. Its use is now restricted, however, after House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) conceded to the far-right House Freedom Caucus last year in adopting a rule to prohibit the practice on certain days.

And, as airport lines top four hours in some of the nation’s busiest airports amid continued staffing shortages, the House may be forced to delay passing the DHS funding bill until next week.

“So Johnson can go to the Rules Committee, where he can try to get a rule – no sure thing,” Sherman continued. “If he does get one, he can try to pass a rule on the floor – no sure thing there either with his margins. Rules are party-line votes. Or he can wait until Monday, where he can pass this on suspension. Either way, suspension is going to be controversial.”