House Speaker Mike Johnson just hit a brick wall in his push to end the partial government shutdown.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) delivered a clear message to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Saturday, stating that Democrats will not supply the votes needed to pass government funding legislation.

This standoff comes as a proposed package, including a two-week stopgap funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), faces resistance from both sides.

Sources from both Republican and Democratic leadership, as reported by Axios, confirmed Jeffries’ position during a call between the two leaders, first noted by Punchbowl News.

On Friday night, Senate Democrats split nearly evenly on the measure, with 23 voting in favor despite backlash from progressive groups over funding for ICE without reforms.

House Democrats, however, are digging in against the short-term DHS extension, negotiated by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and the White House to allow time for ICE reform talks. A virtual caucus call is set for Sunday evening before the House reconvenes on Monday to hash out their strategy.

Debate Heats Up Over DHS Funding

The issue has sparked intense debate, with many questioning whether Johnson can muster the near-unanimous Republican support needed to pass the bill without Democratic help. GOP lawmakers are already voicing strong objections, especially from the right flank, including the House Freedom Caucus, which opposes any tweaks to the DHS funding plan.

Adding fuel to the fire, a bloc of conservatives led by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) demands the SAVE Act—a measure requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voting—be attached to the package. This insistence risks further fracturing GOP unity at a critical moment.

Meanwhile, progressive groups are pressuring House Democrats to hold firm against the DHS stopgap, arguing it props up agencies like ICE without accountability. MoveOn’s spokesperson, Britt Jacovich, didn’t mince words on the matter. “Our members don't support another dime going to this madness,” Jacovich stated.

Jacovich’s follow-up hits even harder: “It is encouraging to see House Democrats listening to Minnesotans and the vast majority of Americans who are demanding ICE accountability.”

While accountability sounds noble, stalling government funding over ideological gripes risks leaving critical services unfunded and Americans in the lurch.

Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas) doubled down on the progressive stance with a fiery declaration. “My Progressive Caucus colleagues and I have been clear: not another cent to ICE until we stop the chaos and the lawlessness,” he said.

Casar’s rhetoric paints a dramatic picture, but it sidesteps the reality that DHS funding isn’t just about ICE—it’s about border security and disaster response, which many communities desperately need. Holding the line on principle might feel good, but it’s a gamble with real-world consequences.

Johnson Faces Uphill Battle in House

Johnson’s predicament is compounded by the procedural maze ahead. Passing the bill under suspension, which skips several hurdles but requires a two-thirds majority, looks unlikely with Democrats largely unwilling to budge, as a senior House Democrat told Axios. The alternative—passing a rule—demands quashing nearly all internal GOP revolts, a tall order given the current discord.

The House Freedom Caucus, in a letter to President Trump early last week, made it clear they won’t tolerate changes to the DHS bill, warning of a laundry list of demands if it’s reopened. This hardline stance could drag out the shutdown, even if Johnson scrapes together enough votes.

On the Democratic side, an anonymous House Democrat told Axios the progressive wing is a firm “no” on ICE funding, pushing for Republicans to bear the full burden of passing the bill. This partisan tug-of-war leaves little room for compromise.

As Monday’s House return looms, the stakes couldn’t be higher. A prolonged shutdown threatens to disrupt essential services, and both sides seem more focused on scoring political points than finding common ground.

Johnson must navigate not just Democratic resistance but also his own party’s fractured priorities. While the SAVE Act push reflects valid concerns about election integrity, it’s a distraction from the urgent need to fund the government.