Rep. Nancy Mace explained on Mar. 27 the current situation in the U.S. House of Representatives regarding funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), following recent actions by the Senate.
The issue is significant because it affects funding for key agencies responsible for immigration enforcement, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). According to Mace, “The Senate unanimously decided to give in to Democrat demands to not fund ICE or CBP.” She said that the Senate passed a bill by voice vote, which would fund all of DHS except ICE and CBP, before adjourning for a two-and-a-half-week recess.
Mace outlined three options now facing the House: pass the bill as it stands, amend it to include ICE and CBP funding—which would extend the shutdown due to the Senate’s recess—or reject it entirely, continuing the DHS shutdown. She described procedural hurdles in passing such a bill quickly: “If there is bipartisan consensus behind a bill, typically the easiest way to pass the bill is under suspension of the rules…it requires a 2/3 majority to pass.” However, she noted that this process cannot be used until Monday due to existing House rules.
She also discussed alternative legislative procedures available in urgent situations: “There are also various ways in which the House can waive its own rules…including through unanimous consent, through a resolution, or other mechanism.” Mace emphasized ongoing efforts despite challenges: “There are still a lot of challenges ahead, but we are fully committed to getting ALL of DHS reopened for the American people.”
Mace has represented South Carolina’s 1st district since replacing Joe Cunningham in 2021 according to her biography. Before serving in Congress, she was part of South Carolina’s state legislature from 2018 until 2020 as reported by Congress.gov. Born at Fort Bragg in North Carolina in 1977 and currently residing in Charleston according to her official biography, Mace graduated from The Citadel with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1999.
The outcome remains uncertain as lawmakers weigh their next steps amid procedural complexities.