In a scathing rebuke, House Speaker Mike Johnson condemned President Joe Biden and his administration for their perceived failure to address the "mayhem" unfolding at the US-Mexico border. Johnson expressed his frustration during an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, emphasizing that the Biden administration is not fulfilling its duties.

Accompanied by over 60 House Republicans, Johnson recently traveled to Eagle Pass, Texas, while Senate negotiators from both parties were aiming to reach a bipartisan agreement on border security. The negotiations were part of a broader funding package for Ukraine, Israel aid, and border security, leaving many wondering how House Republicans would respond if a deal was struck.

During the interview, Johnson poured cold water on the Senate negotiations and asserted that the House Republican border bill, which had passed last year, was the correct approach. While he did not rule out putting a Senate bill to a vote, he cautioned that it was premature to make a decision since no draft bill had been presented.

Johnson argued that the issue at hand couldn't be solved solely by allocating more funds. He pointed out that the Biden administration requested an additional $14 billion for the border in its supplemental budget, along with funds for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Johnson contended that policy changes, as proposed in the House-passed provisions, were essential for reducing the influx of people crossing the border.

"The White House seems not to understand that this is not about sending more money down here; it's about changing the policy," Johnson emphasized.

Johnson's visit to Eagle Pass, accompanied by a large group of House Republicans, underscores the GOP's focus on the border as a significant point of criticism against the Biden administration. Reports indicate that House Republicans are even considering moving forward with steps to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of the border.

Responding to the criticism, Mayorkas stressed the immediate need for border security funding during an appearance on "CNN This Morning." He warned that without a border deal, the Department of Homeland Security would lack the necessary resources to perform its duties effectively, leading to dire consequences.

While some House Republicans advocate for a border bill mirroring HR2, passed by the Republican-controlled House, Senate Democrats assert that such a bill would not be accepted. Furthermore, an increasing number of House Republicans are indicating their readiness to reject a Senate compromise as well.

The Senate negotiations on border security have been ongoing for several weeks, with Republicans insisting on including a border package in exchange for additional funding to Ukraine, as requested by the Biden administration. The complexity of this issue adds to the growing list of funding challenges Congress faces as the threat of a partial government shutdown looms.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed his desire to achieve a border deal first, highlighting the importance of getting the Senate to reach an agreement. Schumer acknowledged that Johnson had been actively involved in budget negotiations but underlined that their position on HR2 had remained unchanged.

In the lead-up to Johnson's visit, Biden administration officials expressed cautious optimism about the progress being made in border negotiations while highlighting a significant decrease in border crossings. According to a senior administration official, border authorities encountered approximately 2,500 migrants at the US southern border on Monday, a stark contrast to the daily arrests of over 10,000 in mid-December. In the Del Rio sector alone, fewer than 500 migrants were apprehended on Monday, marking a significant decline from the wave of arrivals in late December.

Biden, echoing the urgency for action, appealed to Congress to provide the necessary funding, emphasizing the need to protect the border. Speaking to reporters, he stressed the importance of finding a resolution, stating, "We gotta do something. They ought to give me the money I need to protect the border."