Sen. Joni Ernst Critiques Democrats Over DHS Funding Delays
On Wednesday, Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican from Iowa, accused Democrats of stalling funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which is impacting both front-line workers and travelers.
The DHS has been non-operational since February 14, following a failure among lawmakers to reach an agreement on reforms for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Speaking on “The Lead,” Ernst dismissed claims that Republicans were obstructing aid for TSA personnel, asserting that her party has consistently pushed for full funding, but has encountered persistent opposition from Democrats.
“We’ve voted multiple times to reopen the government and fully support the Department of Homeland Security within the spending bill. What Democrats are suggesting is that we split this into parts,” Ernst said to Jake Tapper. “If we continue down this path, then in the future, if there’s a problem with a specific section of USDA, I might say, ‘We won’t fund USDA until this issue is addressed.’ That’s going to create a chaotic situation. It’s clear we need to fund DHS as a whole. Let’s do it together.”
Ernst emphasized the urgent need to address the funding issues facing DHS.
“We really need to come together. There is a way to navigate this, and it exists. We have to sit down and work through the details. Senator Katie Britt is spearheading this as she manages DHS expenditures in the Senate. Unfortunately, Democrats are not cooperating with her to discuss their requirements. The White House proposed a plan to Democrats 18 days ago,” she noted.
The Biden administration has already extended several compromises in an effort to resolve the deadlock surrounding DHS funding and to bring an end to the government shutdown. In a letter sent on Tuesday to Republican Senators Susan Collins from Maine and Katie Britt from Alabama, the White House outlined five proposals aimed at moving negotiations forward. However, officials stated that Democrats have not been willing to reach a compromise and are resistant to reopening government agencies.
“Democrats need to stop endangering the safety and security of the American people and proceed with fully funding DHS,” the letter stated.
