House Republican leaders broke a legislative logjam Tuesday evening as the Rules Committee approved a procedural rule to bring three high-stakes bills to the floor: the reauthorization of foreign surveillance powers under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the sprawling Farm Bill, and a Senate-passed budget blueprint to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol as part of ending the record-long Department of Homeland Security shutdown. The marathon hearing stretched over two days, with Democrats offering repeated amendments, before the panel finally voted along party lines.
The rule, which bundles all three measures, now faces a full House vote—and Speaker Mike Johnston (R-La.) can afford only two defections. Several Republicans have already voiced opposition. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) declared on X Tuesday evening she is a “NO on the Rule,” citing the Rules Committee’s rejection of her noncontroversial amendments to the Farm Bill aimed at helping rural Coloradans. “Farmers and ranchers in my district are counting on me to be their voice in DC and our ‘leadership’ is not letting me do my job,” she wrote.
Sweeteners to Secure Support
To shore up votes, GOP leaders added two key riders. The Farm Bill will include a provision allowing year-round sales of E15 ethanol fuel, a longtime priority for corn-state Republicans. Separately, the FISA reauthorization bill will be paired with legislation prohibiting the Federal Reserve from issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC), a measure that previously passed the House but stalled in the Senate. Anti-CBDC advocates see the must-pass FISA bill as a last vehicle to get the ban to President Trump’s desk.
Democrats pushed back against the CBDC amendment. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), the Rules Committee’s ranking member, argued it was “completely unrelated” and “a nonstarter in the Senate.” Despite their objections, the GOP majority included the rider.
FISA Reauthorization Stirs Controversy
The FISA bill renews Section 702, which authorizes surveillance of foreign individuals overseas, for three years. While it references the Fourth Amendment, it does not require a warrant to review communications of Americans who contact foreign targets—a red line for civil libertarians on both sides of the aisle. The push for reforms has divided Republicans, with some resisting President Trump’s call for a clean reauthorization. The latest compromise emerged after weeks of internal strife, including a dramatic late-night vote where holdouts rejected a previous offer.
Hardline conservatives also demanded the CBDC ban be attached, viewing FISA as one of the few remaining must-pass vehicles. The dispute had delayed the Rules Committee’s work by hours, leaving House business in limbo as lawmakers negotiated behind closed doors.
Farm Bill Faces MAHA Rebellion
The Farm Bill has sparked a rebellion among Republicans aligned with the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement. Critics, including Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), have targeted provisions they say shield pesticide makers from liability and weaken protections against pesticides in drinking water. Luna vowed to “slaughter” the bill on the floor if changes aren’t made, signaling a broader fracture within the GOP conference.
Democrats further complicated the process by offering scores of amendments during the Rules hearing, many of which were rejected. The panel’s chair, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), opened Tuesday’s session by reciting the Serenity Prayer, acknowledging the “trying times” the committee has endured.
Procedural Escape Hatch
The rule includes a provision allowing motions to suspend the rules—requiring a two-thirds vote—on Friday, May 1, a fast-track option not normally available after Wednesday. This gives GOP leaders a backup if the three-bill package stalls. Lawmakers had anticipated a rocky week, with Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) calling it “hell week.”
The outcome remains uncertain. With Speaker Johnston’s narrow majority, any defection could derail the entire package. The House is expected to vote on the rule Wednesday, followed by separate votes on each bill. If passed, the FISA reauthorization would head to the Senate with the CBDC rider, while the Farm Bill would include the ethanol provision—both moves that could face further resistance in the upper chamber.
For now, GOP leaders have bought themselves time, but the path forward is anything but clear. As one lawmaker put it, the next 48 hours will test whether the party can govern—or whether infighting will once again stall must-pass legislation.
