Pressure mounted on Senate Majority Leader John Thune as House Republicans openly called for his replacement following the Senate's passage of a bipartisan funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security.

The Senate unanimously approved the measure in the early hours of March 27, providing funds through September 30 for most DHS operations, including the Transportation Security Administration, but omitting dedicated appropriations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. This decision came amid a partial government shutdown that began in mid-February, triggered by Democrats' refusal to approve additional immigration enforcement funding after the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal agents in January. The standoff left approximately 50,000 DHS employees without pay and contributed to nearly 500 TSA officer resignations, resulting in extended airport security lines nationwide.

Representative John Rose, a Tennessee Republican, urged Thune to step aside during an appearance on Newsmax, stating, "We should call on Thune to step aside." Fellow Tennessee Republican Tim Burchett echoed the sentiment on Fox News, declaring, "I think they need to get some new leadership over there," without naming Thune directly. South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace labeled Thune a "thorn in the side" of the Republican Party on CNN, noting the issue had escalated to a national problem after House leaders rejected the Senate bill.

The House responded by passing its own continuing resolution extending DHS funding through May 22, which Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer dismissed as dead on arrival. Speaker Mike Johnson described the Senate proposal as a "joke" and defended Thune somewhat, attributing the impasse to Senate Democrats.

President Donald Trump amplified the criticism by reposting a Truth Social message featuring the hashtag #RemoveSenThune, amid ongoing efforts to advance the SAVE America Act, a House-passed bill requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. Trump pressed Thune to secure votes for altering filibuster rules to pass the measure, stating leadership requires getting the votes, though Thune maintained Republicans lacked the necessary support. Trump also issued a memo directing payment for TSA workers during the shutdown.

Thune blamed Democrats for moving the goalposts on funding talks, posting on X, "Democrats are playing politics and using the American people as pawns." His office did not respond to requests for comment on the ouster calls. Some Senate Republicans, like Tim Sheehy of Montana, defended Thune, noting the challenges of floor management without sufficient votes.

Hardline senators such as Mike Lee and Rick Scott criticized the two-week recess, urging a return to address the crisis, while Thune opposed reconvening for what he called "show votes." The shutdown, now over six weeks long as of late March, risked becoming the longest in U.S. history, with both chambers adjourned and no resolution in sight.