House Speaker Critiques Democrats Amid Government Shutdown

House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed strong criticism of congressional Democrats on Friday. He asserted that Republicans would not support any initiatives aimed at opening U.S. borders or halting the deportation of undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes.

During a two-hour conference call with House Republicans, Johnson emphasized that the party is “united” in their stance to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in order to address the ongoing partial government shutdown, which has notably affected air travel.

He accused Senate Democrats of holding the government funding process “hostage” to advance what he described as “radical policies.” Johnson remarked that this situation has been driven by a goal that he considers “insane,” emphasizing the need to maintain crucial government operations.

The Senate has moved forward with a funding bill, but it notably excludes financial support for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Border Patrol.

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries countered that the only barrier to resolving this situation lies with House Republicans. He pointed out the existence of a bipartisan bill that has received unanimous support in the Senate, which should be prioritized to secure funding for TSA personnel and ease disruptions at airports nationwide.

Johnson further stated that Democrats are unwilling to fully fund DHS unless Republicans agree to impose new constraints on federal immigration officials.

As the situation continues, frustrations mount over delays and long lines at airports, with pressure building on lawmakers to finalize an agreement regarding Transportation Security Administration (TSA) worker payments. Reports suggest an increasing number of resignations among TSA employees, exacerbating the staffing challenges at airports.

President Trump recently signed an executive order to ensure TSA workers receive payment, despite Congress not having allocated funds for this purpose.

In response to the funding impasse, Johnson indicated that Republicans would propose a continuing resolution to maintain funding levels for all agencies under DHS.

The ongoing government shutdown began in February, sparked by incidents involving federal agents during immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota. Democrats are calling for significant changes to ICE and DHS while withholding funding for these agencies.