White House Correspondents' Dinner Shooting Fails to Resolve DHS Funding Deadlock Between Democrats and Republicans

The shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner on Saturday, April 26, has done little to bridge the partisan divide in Congress over reopening the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Republicans have framed the incident as justification for Democrats to drop demands for immigration enforcement reforms and fund the entire department without conditions. Democrats, however, are pushing back against linking the shooting to funding negotiations.

"I think that the idea of using any one incidence of violence for a political end is pretty sad and unfortunate."

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), speaking to Axios

The Senate passed a bipartisan bill that would fund all of DHS except ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), but House Republicans have refused to consider it. Instead, House Republicans advanced their own bill to fund the entire department without reforms.

Key Figures Clash Over DHS Impasse

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) publicly clashed on Monday, April 28, over the ongoing funding standoff.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) signaled little room for compromise at a press conference the same day, accusing former President Donald Trump and House Republicans of shutting down DHS for over 70 days to advance an "extreme immigration agenda."

"Donald Trump and House Republicans have now shut down the Department of Homeland Security for more than 70 days because ... [they] wanted to continue to drive their extreme immigration agenda."

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.)

Jeffries urged House Republicans to bring the Senate bill to the floor immediately, calling it a "bipartisan solution" that has been "languishing in the House of Representatives."

House Republicans Reject Senate Compromise

Speaker Johnson dismissed the Senate bill, telling reporters it contains "problematic language because it was haphazardly drafted."

"We have a modified version that I think is going to be much better for both chambers. It doesn't change most of the substance."

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Speaker

Republicans have argued for reopening DHS in full, citing the Secret Service—a DHS sub-agency—as critical to security. Essential personnel are currently being paid through the One Big, Beautiful Bill, a temporary funding measure.

Democrats Hold Firm on Immigration Reforms

Democrats largely echoed Jeffries' stance, rejecting Republican attempts to tie the shooting to funding negotiations. Several lawmakers criticized the GOP's approach.

"I don't understand what the Republicans are saying, like it actually makes no sense at all."

Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus

Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.), Chair of House Democrats' battleground-district members, reiterated that the Senate-passed bill remains stalled in the House.

"We had a DHS bill that passed the Senate that [House] Republicans haven't passed."

Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.)

Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.), one of Democrats' most vulnerable incumbents, emphasized the need to protect both Trump and the American people but insisted on including reforms for ICE and CBP.

"I believe the same applies to the American people."

Rep. Don Davis (D-N.C.)

Not all Democrats oppose compromise. Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), a centrist and former director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, called for a deal to reopen DHS while acknowledging the need for bipartisan concessions.

"I think we both could give a little."

"I think we need to make a deal, we need to get DHS open ... no question about it. Let's see what the proposal is."

Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.)

Moskowitz has introduced legislation to move sub-agencies like the Secret Service and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) out of DHS entirely, aiming to break the deadlock.