Hardline House Republicans are revolting against Senate Republicans' plan to end the partial government shutdown and fund TSA, meaning US airports will remain in chaos.
Their dissatisfaction could derail the proposal, which would fund TSA workers, who have gone without pay since the shutdown began on February 14.
Early on Friday morning, the Senate passed a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees TSA, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and more.
Their bill notably did not provide funding for ICE, which House Speaker Mike Johnson and many House members have taken issue with.
Democrats voted against DHS funding in February in opposition to providing more funds for Trump's immigration agenda. The Senate compromised by authoring a bill providing funding for the many branches of DHS except ICE.
Florida Republican Congressman Byron Donalds told reporters Friday the legislation is akin to a 'turd sandwich.'
Now Johnson is reportedly circulated a plan that would extend current funding levels for DHS for 60 days.
Johnson's second in command, House Whip Tom Emmer, reportedly has said that President Donald Trump is on board with Johnson's plan.
Congress appeared poised to pass funding for TSA workers on Friday before some hardline Republican's rejected their Senate counterpart's proposal
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has since begun circulating plans for a back up plan, though it will likely take at minimum several days to receive a vote in the House and Senate before it could be signed into law by President Trump
US Airport wait times have exploded due to a shortage of TSA workers. Around 500 TSA workers have quit during the partial government shutdown, which began on February 14
On Thursday, Trump said he'd order newly appointed DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to find cash to pay TSA workers in a gambit to calm US travelers.
'I am going to sign an Order instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation, and to quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports,' he posted on social media.
But the DHS chief has yet to act, as Congress appeared poised to pass funding until House Republicans rejected the Senate's bill.
Complicating the plan is the need for members of Congress to stay in DC and vote on the new proposal.
Many members of the House and Senate have already fled Washington, DC, to return home for the Easter break, which is supposed to last until mid-April.
Should the House vote on the 60-day proposal on Friday or over the weekend, the Senate would be forced to return to the capital to pass the House plan before the bill could be signed by Trump for the funding to be approved.
It could take several days for the House's proposal to receive a vote; it could take even more time for the Senate to return to DC and then vote on the new proposal.
Meanwhile, airport wait times are expected to remain long and TSA workers will continue to be unpaid.