Democrats bash Johnson for rejecting Senate DHS bill, urge support for discharge petition

House Democratic leaders criticized Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday for rejecting a bipartisan Senate bill that would reopen most of the Department of Homeland Security, accusing Republican leaders of prolonging the partial shutdown to satisfy conservative hardliners. Democrats are rallying behind a discharge petition—a procedural tool that allows lawmakers to bypass leadership and force a floor vote—to advance the Senate legislation. The disagreement centers on what conditions should accompany DHS funding, with Democrats arguing Johnson is prioritizing ideological demands over reopening the agency. A discharge petition requires 218 signatures to move forward, giving Democrats a path to advance the bill if they can secure enough Republican support. The dispute underscores the broader standoff between the two parties over funding the government and the DHS specifically.