Senate Deadlock Over DHS Funding Continues As GOP Eyes New Path

As we begin another week — Holy Week, at that — the Senate remains deadlocked over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding, with no immediate resolution in sight. On Monday, senators gaveled in a pro-forma session, but opted not to take up the 60-day continuing resolution passed by the House on Friday that would have fully funded DHS. So...the partial shutdown over DHS drags on. 

BREAKING: The Senate just held a quick pro forma session & adjourned until Thursday. GOP did not introduce the House passed DHS funding bill via unanimous consent, but if they did, Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) was here and told us he planned to object/kill it. DHS shutdown continues.

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 30, 2026

For Republicans who are complaining that the Senate didn't even try to pass the House DHS bill this morning...

No GOP Senators showed up to attempt to introduce it. Sen. Hoeven (R-ND) presided, but a second R Senator would've needed to offer it. Coons was there for D's to reject https://t.co/369kZVFnK1

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 30, 2026

As indicated, any effort to move the House measure by unanimous consent would have run into a brick wall in the form of Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), who was poised to raise an objection that would have killed it. 

ALSO SEE: The GOP Leadership Mess the DHS Funding Debacle Is Exposing, and Where We Go From Here

Boom: Watch As Even Legacy Media Shuts Down a Dem Over Their False DHS Funding Narrative

But...that doesn't mean all is lost. 

🚨 JUST IN: The Senate GOP is reportedly DONE negotiating with Democrats and will move to fund ICE for THREE YEARS in budget reconciliation, which only needs 50 votes and JD Vance

"We're taking this off the table." — Sen. Hoeven

They should just NUKE THE FILIBUSTER and be FULLY… https://t.co/aLgoXgHf1N pic.twitter.com/K0UFJDai0Y

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 30, 2026

The Senate is set to reconvene on Thursday and, as noted by Fox News' Bill Melugin, could conceivably try to take the measure up then. But he lays out the alternative (and seemingly more likely) path, per Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND):

NEW: Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) tells reporters GOP didn’t introduce the House passed DHS funding bill via unanimous consent today because Sen. Coons (D-DE) was here to object/kill it.

I asked why not at least try and let Dems kill it?

Hoeven indicated they may try to get consensus before the Senate reconvenes on Thursday & may try it then.

BUT….

Hoeven also indicated Senate Republicans are done negotiating with Democrats & he wants to pivot instead to passing 3 years of DHS funding via reconciliation, which wouldn’t require Dem votes.

“We're taking this off the table, that that's enough of this with the Democrats,” Hoeven said.

That hints at some resolve on the part of the Senate GOP, but the proof, obviously, will be in the political pudding. Here's what to keep an eye out for in the coming days: 

• whether Senate leadership attempts unanimous consent again (doubtful)
• whether senators are called back before their (currently) scheduled return (on April 13)
• whether Democrats maintain a formal objection (highly likely) 

The situation remains fluid (swampy even), but we'll continue to follow along and provide updates as warranted. 

Editor’s Note: We're stuck in a seemingly endless Schumer Shutdown, one that has never been about principle — just inflicting pain for political points.

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