Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is demanding answers from Senate Republicans following the discovery of a controversial provision in the latest Department of Homeland Security funding package. During an appearance Tuesday on Fox Business “Kudlow,” Gingrich questioned why GOP leadership allowed language into the bill that he claims could effectively paralyze immigration enforcement.
The controversy stems from a funding deal approved by the Senate on Friday via unanimous consent—a move that notably excluded specific allocations for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol.
While the House later passed a stopgap measure to keep the DHS operational through late May, Gingrich argued that the fine print of the Senate’s version contains “totally inappropriate” restrictions.
“What it says is no money in this bill can be spent on ICE,” Gingrich told guest host David Asman. He noted that legal experts and House members are currently reviewing the text, which appears to block existing funds from being used for actual operations. “I don’t fully understand why the Republicans would have tolerated that section, and it’s very clear, it’s very specific,” Gingrich added, noting he has yet to receive a “good explanation” from Senate leadership regarding the concession.
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The legislative friction comes as the Senate failed to move forward with the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. The bill sought to implement strict proof-of-citizenship requirements for voter registration and the removal of non-citizens from rolls.
When asked if the current legislative situation was “resolved,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune acknowledged the impasse, stating, “We made some temporary headway, but we got a lot of work to do still.”
Thune’s handling of the week’s session drew sharp criticism from within his own party. Representative Randy Fine, a Florida Republican, publicly called out the Senate Leader on social media as the SAVE Act stalled.
“Looks like Leader John Thune is on his way out of town with his private escort, as the SAVE America Act gets left behind,” Fine wrote on X. “This is very disappointing. I am willing to stay in Washington as long as it takes to get the job done.”
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