Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks with reporters at the Capitol in Washington, on Tuesday. J. Scott Applewhite/APRepublicans in Congress are ready to immediately reopen the Department of Homeland Security — without money for immigration enforcement — as long as enough Democrats are willing to back the plan, according to Senate Majority Leader John Thune. He said the Senate GOP conference’s lunchtime meeting was focused on the possibility of the legislative maneuver that would not require Democratic votes. But Thune himself was noncommittal, saying: “You have to have a reason to do it. If we have reasons to do it, then we very well may.”“I think there’s a lot of support for a budget reconciliation bill,” Thune said.

Source: CNN March 24, 2026 18:11 UTC