Funding for Homeland Security Blocked Again by Senate Democrats
Long airport lines and rising concerns about domestic threats haven’t deterred Senate Democrats from blocking funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) once more. This marks the fifth attempt by Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader John Thune, to reopen the government. The DHS has now been closed for 35 days, making it one of the longest shutdowns in history.
As Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers continue to be unpaid and fears of further attacks rise—especially after two recent mass shootings—Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his colleagues remain resolute in their stance.
Democratic senators have repeatedly attempted to pass funding bills for various parts of DHS that don’t involve immigration operations, such as funding for TSA officers, but they’ve been unsuccessful in these efforts.
“Republicans are insisting that they won’t help fund TSA workers or ease airport lines unless they can pass Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) funding without reforms,” Schumer remarked.
Thune expressed frustration, suggesting that Democrats are bound by their base’s demands, forcing them to continue the blockade against government funding in order to defund ICE.
“The issue is that even if their supporters are urging them to pursue alternative routes, there are some Democrats who may still seek a compromise, which could be difficult but essential for keeping the government running,” Thune added.
Despite these challenges, there were hints of possible progress this week. After a lengthy silence, Democrats submitted a new counterproposal to the White House, which the administration dismissed as insincere. The White House responded with a list of five concessions it would consider to reopen DHS.
A senior official from the White House said, “The divide between both sides is significant, primarily because we’ve put forth a serious five-part plan and are open to further discussion, but we need more than what has been offered so far.”
This proposal led to a private meeting on Capitol Hill with key figures including border czar Tom Homan, while notable senators like Katie Britt and Angus King participated in what was reportedly their first in-person meeting since the shutdown began.
Thune noted that the group would reconvene soon, stating, “We’ll find out today if there’s a genuine willingness to cut a deal.”
Senate Confirmation Under Scrutiny
As discussions continue, the Senate is also poised to confirm Senator Markwayne Mullin, President Donald Trump’s nominee for DHS Secretary, after the ousting of Kristi Noem. Mullin has received support from some Democrats but still faces significant opposition.
Democrats have called for Noem’s replacement and have kept pressure on Mullin during his confirmation hearing. He’s made concessions that address their concerns, like implementing requirements for judicial warrants for ICE agents in most cases, yet skepticism remains among Democratic lawmakers.
Plans are in place to force a vote on funding for TSA, which is likely to meet the same fate as previous efforts.
Thune is reluctant to let lawmakers leave Washington before resolving these issues, especially with the two-week Easter break approaching. “We need to have this settled by the end of next week. The government cannot stay shut down,” he stated.
