The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote again on Thursday (March 5) on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security, as Republicans say the ongoing conflict with Iran makes resuming full operations more urgent.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said the international security environment underscores the need for action.
“The military actions in Iran make it all the more urgent and critical to have DHS fully funded and staffed in all its departments,” Johnson said.
Republicans view the vote as critical to national security and warn that instability abroad increases the risk of retaliation at home.
The fallout from the shutdown and the funding impasse
The House passed a DHS funding bill in January, but it stalled in the US Senate after Democrats demanded changes to immigration enforcement provisions. Funding for the department expired on February 14, prompting a partial shutdown.
Congress has completed 11 of the year’s 12 bills. The only outstanding measure remains DHS.
While most DHS employees are considered essential and continue to work, many are starting to miss parts of their paychecks.
Security concerns cited by Republicans
Republicans say the shutdown comes at a particularly dangerous time, citing the Iran conflict and a recent domestic incident.
A second fatal shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis in January prompted Democrats to oppose funding the department unless immigration enforcement reforms are implemented.
“We can’t understand that America is under siege, now it’s probably going to be attacked because radical Islam is under siege, and they’re going to strike, and we’re sitting here looking at each other and not funding DHS,” Sen. Lindsey Graham said.
Republicans say the shutdown is already affecting critical functions:
-Possible increased absence of Transportation Security Administration employees, which may lead to longer waiting times at the airport.
-Cancelled cybersecurity assessments by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
-Suspended FEMA-run first responder training programs.
They also point to recent violence, including the mass shooting in Austin, as evidence of a heightened threat environment.
Alabama Sen. Katie Britt said, “I think it’s incredibly irresponsible not to fund an agency that’s supposed to keep us safe here at home.”
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Democratic opposition and proposed changes
Democrats say they are willing to fund most DHS agencies, but object to provisions related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Representative Jim McGovern criticized the Republican-backed bill: “It’s the same crappy, rotten law that puts no guardrails or restrictions on ICE or CBP after federal agents shoot American citizens in the street.”
Democrats are proposing several changes, including:
-Limiting ICE operations in sensitive locations such as schools and churches.
-Requirements for warrants signed by a judge before entering private homes without consent.
-Independent investigation of alleged misconduct.
– Mandatory identification and unmasking for agents.
Republicans note that the bill includes bipartisan elements such as expanded de-escalation training and $20 million for body-worn cameras for immigration agents.
Negotiations continue, agreement unclear
Talks between the White House and congressional leaders continued without a breakthrough.
“Look, we’re still far apart, but we’re negotiating and exchanging papers back and forth,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said.
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