House Republicans are urging swift action to fund the Secret Service following an assassination attempt on President Donald Trump at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. The shooting, which involved suspect Cole Allen, has intensified calls to resolve a 74-day Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, the longest in history.
Immediate Action & Core Facts
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer praised the Secret Service's response but criticized Senate Democrats for blocking DHS funding. House Speaker Mike Johnson has signaled support for advancing a Senate-passed bill to fund most of DHS, including the Secret Service, despite earlier objections to provisions for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Deeper Dive & Context
Political Divisions Over Funding
The DHS shutdown began over Democratic opposition to immigration enforcement funding. Republicans now blame Democrats for the stalemate, while some GOP senators, including Ron Johnson, Mike Lee, and Rick Scott, are pushing to abolish the Senate filibuster to force funding through. The filibuster has been used by Democrats to block DHS funding since February.
Security Concerns
The shooting at the dinner, where Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Cabinet members were present, has heightened concerns about security. Republicans argue the shutdown weakens national security, while Democrats have not publicly commented on the latest developments.
Legislative Path Forward
The Senate-passed bill, which excludes funding for ICE and CBP, has stalled in the House. Johnson has indicated willingness to advance it, but conservative Republicans remain divided. Some, like Rep. Nick Langworthy, have urged Johnson to bring the bill to the floor immediately.