Senators Shift Blame Over DHS Funding Impasse

On Sunday, Senators Adam Schiff and Cory Booker faced questions regarding their party’s responsibility in continuing the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has resulted in unpaid workers for several weeks.

During an interview on “Meet the Press,” NBC’s Kristen Welker highlighted recent terrorist incidents and relayed a letter from major airline CEOs urging Congress to address U.S. air security. She asked Schiff whether the Democrats were to blame for withholding DHS funding amid escalating threats. Schiff responded, suggesting that the Democrats have consistently tried to separate funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from that of other crucial agencies.

He mentioned, “We proposed resolutions this week to reopen and fund these agencies. Every time, Republicans pushed them back. Our offer was clear: let’s defund ICE and ensure proper funding for agencies that protect the country.” He further criticized Republicans for rejecting allocations for essential services like the TSA and Coast Guard, asserting that Republicans, who control Congress, shouldn’t blame the minority for their governance issues.

In a similar vein, CNN’s Jake Tapper questioned Booker about the necessity of reviving DHS funding. Tapper pointed out that Democrats appeared to have gained the upper hand in the debate regarding ICE, referencing recent leadership changes in the border enforcement hierarchy.

Booker reiterated that Democrats have attempted multiple times to secure funding for essential services, only to be met with repeated refusals from Republicans. He expressed his disapproval of further financing for ICE, stating, “They have engaged in reckless actions. What we need is to ensure TSA agents and Coast Guard members receive the necessary funding. It’s unacceptable for Republicans to deny this.”

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also placed the blame on Republicans during his interview. He suggested that they stop obstructing efforts to fund all parts of DHS, except for ICE and Customs and Border Protection, which still require negotiation. He noted that Democrats are ready to fund crucial services but accused Republicans of creating unnecessary gridlock.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island confirmed that Democrats are willing to fund agencies like FEMA and the Coast Guard but emphasized the problematic conduct of ICE. In contrast, Senator John Cornyn of Texas dismissed the notion that Democrats were genuinely attempting to resolve the shutdown, pointing out that ICE had already received funding through previous legislative acts. He lamented, “This is just causing delays for air travelers and is counterproductive to their claims.”