Speaker Johnson expressed anger over what he described as a hidden provision in the government-funding bill used to reopen federal operations. He argued the measure was inserted without proper disclosure and said it undermined transparency as Congress worked to resolve the shutdown.

A little-known provision slipped into the Senate’s latest government funding bill has triggered sharp criticism from House Republicans, who say the Senate granted itself special legal protections tied to Jan. 6–related surveillance. What began as a routine vote to prevent a government shutdown escalated into a partisan and inter-chamber conflict once House lawmakers discovered that senators had inserted language allowing only members of the upper chamber to sue the federal government if they were monitored without notice during former special counsel Jack Smith’s “Arctic Frost” investigation. The measure applies to eight Republican senators, each eligible to claim up to $500,000.

House Republicans expressed frustration at being blindsided by the last-minute addition. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) called the House back from a 54-day recess, saying most members were unaware of the new language. Critics argued the provision created an unfair disparity: senators would receive special legal remedies, while House members—some of whom believe they were also surveilled—would get no comparable protection. Johnson stressed the lack of transparency, calling it an unacceptable imbalance between the chambers.

Outrage spilled onto social media, where several GOP representatives accused their Senate counterparts of engaging in self-serving maneuvering. Rep. John Rose condemned the provision as a secret attempt to secure up to $500,000 in taxpayer-funded payouts. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna described it as “shady” and “fubar,” arguing it provided lucrative settlement opportunities for senators while offering nothing to Jan. 6 defendants. Rep. Greg Steube voted against the bill, calling it blatant self-dealing and predicting the Senate would block any effort to remove the clause.

Despite the internal backlash, House Republicans advanced the broader funding bill to avoid an extended shutdown, keeping agencies such as Veterans Affairs and Agriculture funded through January. A proposed extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies was excluded but may be revisited. Meanwhile, new reporting revealed that Jan. 6 surveillance reached former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and former Rep. Louie Gohmert, deepening concerns about government overreach. The dispute highlights widening GOP tensions and raises broader questions about fairness, accountability, and political self-interest during an already sensitive period in the legislative process.