Graham moves forward on reconciliation plan to fund DHS, defense

Reconciliation bills require only a simple majority vote and could prove a method for ending the DHS shutdown, which has lasted for more than one month.

Published: March 25, 2026 10:44am

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., this week vowed to move forward with a reconciliation bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security and several defense priorities as means of working around the 60-vote filibuster.

Reconciliation bills require only a simple majority vote and could prove a method for ending the DHS shutdown, which has lasted for more than one month. 

“The purpose of the second reconciliation bill is to make sure there is adequate funding to secure our homeland and to support our men and women in the military who are fighting so bravely,” Graham said, according to Politico. “More funding will mean they can complete the task assigned and keep America safe – which is money well spent.”

Republicans have also floated using reconciliation to pass parts of the SAVE America Act, a landmark voter ID bill that has stalled in the upper chamber. The Senate parliamentarian, however, is unlikely to allow non-budget items to pass via reconciliation.

Ben Whedon is the Chief Political Correspondent at Just the News. Follow him on X.

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