Sen. Bernie Moreno Critiques Democratic Colleagues Over Shutdown

Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) expressed strong disapproval towards his Democratic counterparts during a Congressional hearing on Wednesday. He labeled their attempts to blame Republicans for the ongoing government shutdown as “disgusting” and “shameful.”

In his remarks, Moreno redirected attention to the nearly 260,000 employees at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including those in the Transportation Security Administration, who have been working without pay for over a month. “260,000 American families have not received a paycheck in over a month, and there is no one in charge of policy,” he pointed out. It’s worth noting that everyone present in the room—likely referring to fellow lawmakers—has been paid recently.

He emphasized that the real victims of the government shutdown are the DHS employees. Moreno illustrated their struggles, saying, “They have to tell their kids that they can’t go to a dance recital because they’ve done everything right in life except get a job at DHS so politicians can make 30-second videos online to raise money for their next election.” This sentiment struck a chord, highlighting the personal toll on families affected by political decisions.

A few weeks back, Democratic Senator Cory Booker from New Jersey shared a video online, pledging to oppose funding for DHS unless reforms are made. Amidst the heated atmosphere, Moreno shifted his focus to Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), the ranking member on the Homeland Security committee, accusing him of failing to uphold his promise to secure funding for essential agencies. Moreno deemed Peters’ lack of engagement during the hearing as “incredibly rude.”

Displaying a large poster board showing how the shutdown undermines DHS’s mission—highlighting U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services—Moreno passionately defended the importance of legal immigration. “USCIS is near and dear to my heart,” he said, reflecting on his personal experience as an immigrant. He criticized the decision to defund agencies that facilitate legal immigration, calling it “insane.”

His frustration didn’t stop there; he also vehemently opposed cuts to Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. “Does that mean we’re not going to fund organizations that pursue transnational crime?” he challenged. It was clear that he wanted Democrats to be specific about their positions on ICE funding.

Moreno’s remarks came a day after Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) accused Democrats of using the DHS agency as leverage during budget negotiations. As the debate continues, Fox News Digital has reached out to Sen. Peters for further comment.