Johnson Fast Tracks New Plan
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is moving toward an unusual procedural strategy to speed a funding bill through the House as Washington faces a brief government shutdown.
According to Republican sources, Johnson informed GOP lawmakers during a closed-door conference call Friday afternoon that he is considering using a fast-track process that would depend on Democratic votes to advance the legislation.
The goal is to quickly approve a funding package expected from the Senate and limit the duration of the shutdown, which would begin once current funding expires.
Why Johnson Is Bypassing the Normal Process
Under standard House procedures, leadership must first pass a rule setting the terms for debate. With the GOP holding a razor-thin majority, that step has become increasingly difficult as a small number of Republican holdouts routinely demand changes at the last minute.
To avoid another internal standoff, Johnson is looking at a process known as “suspension of the rules.” This allows leadership to bypass the rule vote entirely — but it raises the bar for passage to a two-thirds majority.
That means Johnson would need support from more than 70 Democrats.
What’s in the Senate Funding Package
The Senate is expected to pass the revised funding bill late Friday. The package includes:
- Five full-year appropriations bills
- A short-term extension funding the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks
The temporary DHS funding is designed to give Democrats additional time to push for changes to immigration enforcement policies.
Because the House has not yet approved the bill and government funding expires at midnight, parts of the federal government are expected to shut down briefly. Johnson has said he hopes the House will vote on the package Monday.
Democrats Press for DHS Policy Changes
Senate Democrats insisted on the short-term DHS extension following a recent incident involving Border Patrol agents in Minnesota. They have made clear they will not support long-term DHS funding without reforms.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Democrats support advancing the five-bill funding package but are still evaluating whether there is a path toward what he described as “dramatic changes” at DHS.
Progressive lawmakers are already signaling opposition.
Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said he would oppose any funding that does not restrict Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“If this comes to the House, I’m voting no,” Casar said after news broke that Senate Democrats and Donald Trump had reached a deal.
GOP Backlash Builds on the Right
While Trump’s support for the agreement could help Johnson manage internal dissent, conservative resistance is already growing.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) criticized leadership for relying on Democratic votes and demanded that proof-of-citizenship requirements for federal elections be attached to DHS funding.
She argued that leadership was turning to Democrats because the bill would fail under normal House procedures.
Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), a member of the House Freedom Caucus, also objected to the two-week DHS extension, saying Republicans should not reopen negotiations with Democrats over border policy.
High Stakes for Johnson and the GOP
With Republicans set to lose another seat following a Texas special election, Johnson’s margin for error is shrinking. On party-line votes, even a single defection could derail legislation.
Now, the Speaker faces a difficult calculation: force a risky internal vote that could fail, or depend on Democratic support that may come with policy concessions many conservatives strongly oppose.
As the shutdown clock ticks, Johnson’s next move could shape both the budget fight — and the balance of power inside the House — heading into an election year.
