Furious Graham Warns Speaker Johnson Over Trump-Backed Spending Bill
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham signaled Friday that he was willing to grind the Senate to a halt—even at the risk of a partial government shutdown—over what he views as a betrayal by House leadership and a procedural end-run around Republican priorities, despite the funding package being backed by President Donald Trump and Senate Democrats.
The South Carolina Republican took aim at a House-backed version of the government funding bill that strips out a provision allowing senators whose phone records were subpoenaed during the so-called “Arctic Frost” investigation to seek up to $500,000 in damages. Graham said the change was made without his input and accused House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) of sidelining him in negotiations.
“You could have called me about the $500,000,” Graham said. “I’d be glad to work with you. You jammed me, Speaker Johnson. I won’t forget this. I got a lot of good friends in the House. If you think I’m going to give up on this, you really don’t know me.”
Graham also made clear that tensions with the White House had escalated, saying he was prepared to hold up the broader funding package unless the Senate was allowed to vote on additional measures. Those proposals include expanding eligibility for relief tied to past federal investigations and legislation forcing greater cooperation from sanctuary cities that obstruct immigration enforcement.
“I’ve been told the White House doesn’t like this, and I told the White House last night, ‘I don’t care if you like it or not.’ I literally texted my friends at the White House, ‘If I were you, I would not call me tonight,'” he said.
“And they didn’t call me,” he continued. “I don’t work for the White House. They’re my political allies. I’m close to President Trump. I don’t work for him.”
The standoff unfolded as lawmakers raced to pass a series of spending bills before a continuing resolution expired at midnight Friday. Internal divisions among Senate Republicans over policy priorities and accountability provisions slowed negotiations and threatened to derail the process entirely.
Senate leaders spent much of Friday attempting to overcome objections and advance the package, while multiple lawmakers pressed for amendment votes as leverage. The impasse ultimately produced a last-minute compromise.
The Senate approved an amended spending measure that swaps out a full year of Department of Homeland Security funding for a two-week stopgap, giving Congress additional time to battle over immigration enforcement and border security provisions.
The broader legislation still delivers full-year funding for the Departments of Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, State, Transportation, and Treasury—bringing the long-delayed fiscal 2026 appropriations process close to completion, The Washington Times reported.
The measure cleared the Senate by a 71–29 vote just hours before the deadline. However, the federal government will still enter a partial shutdown through at least Monday, when the House is scheduled to return to Washington and vote on the revised package.
Lawmakers downplayed the immediate impact of the lapse, saying disruptions would be minimal if the House moves quickly.
President Donald Trump endorsed the agreement, arguing that preventing prolonged dysfunction was essential to protecting the economy.
“Hopefully, both Republicans and Democrats will give a very much needed Bipartisan ‘YES’ Vote,” Trump wrote on social media Thursday evening after the deal was finalized.
Democrats, however, abruptly withdrew their earlier support for full-year DHS funding following the fatal shooting of U.S. citizen protester Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis last weekend. Party leaders are now demanding changes aimed at curbing the Trump administration’s deportation operations.
Their proposed conditions include restrictions on roving immigration enforcement patrols, requirements for judicial warrants, mandatory identification and body cameras for agents, and limits on the use of force.
Republicans are pushing back with their own priorities, including provisions designed to crack down on sanctuary city policies that allow state and local governments to undermine federal immigration law.
As Washington once again teeters on the edge of a shutdown, the clash underscores a familiar divide: Democrats seeking to restrain immigration enforcement, and Republicans fighting to restore accountability, enforce the law, and rein in a federal government that too often shields itself from consequences.