Reed Demands Republicans Finally End Their Partisan DHS Shutdown Charade

WASHINGTON, DC -- Congressional Republicans continue to drag their feet as their Republican-only DHS shutdown drags past 61 days.

On March 5, Democrats offered a compromise solution to end the shutdown that mirrors legislation that was approved unanimously by the full U.S. Senate on March 27. On April 1, President Trump publicly endorsed the Senate-passed bill, followed by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who grudgingly got on board after initially calling the Senate-passed bill "a joke."

Still, fifteen days after the Republican President, Republican Senate Majority Leader, and Republican House Speaker all agreed to get the bipartisan DHS bill done to fully fund the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the U.S. Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), Secret Service, and other key homeland security agencies, the Republican-controlled Congress has failed to act and is now threatening to adjourn for a long weekend instead of taking up the bipartisan, unanimously-passed bipartisan Senate DHS bill.

Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) stated: "The Trump Administration made a mess of DHS, blowing money on luxury jets and corrupt contracts, allowing ill-trained immigration agents to operate with impunity and violence, while withholding critical disaster assistance. It became so bad that President Trump was publicly shamed into ousting DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Who could vote for another blank check and allow such lawlessness to continue?

"Democrats were right to seek accountability, took a principled stand, and then reached a principled compromise that allowed DHS to reopen without ICE funding as it worked toward needed improvement and implementing overdue ICE reforms. But weeks later, Congressional Republicans are still refusing to reopen DHS. It is part of the Trump Administration's broader disdain for federal employees and the basic responsibilities of good governance. Speaker Johnson's failure to get the Senate-passed, bipartisan DHS funding bill across the finish line compromises national safety and undermines the morale of essential federal workers. What are Republicans waiting for? They are just needlessly dragging their feet and creating uncertainty for hardworking federal employees who are unsure where their next paycheck will come from. It is inexcusable and causes undue stress and risk and jeopardizes homeland security."

DHS has been without funding since February 14, in the wake of the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, American citizens who were killed by out of control ICE and the Border Patrol agents, who were involved in those shootings and have yet to be held accountable.

The Senate-passed bill would fully fund the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the U.S. Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), and customs officers at border checkpoints, while excluding more funds for ICE and Border Patrol operations. Republicans had already passed, on a party-line vote using reconciliation, a 'slush fund' for ICE and CBP that is about seven times the regular annual budget for these two federal agencies. The Trump Administration has been able to tap this funding unimpeded, even as Democrats continue to press for needed reforms. The bipartisan agreement also guarantees backpay to federal workers who went without pay during the shutdown.

Weeks into the shutdown, President Trump signed two executive orders calling on DHS to pay employees despite the shutdown. Still, TSA workers and other DHS employees have been given no concrete assurance that they will receive their next paycheck on time or in full.

Senator Reed urged the House to immediately take up and pass the Senate-passed bill. Noting the only reason the Republican-controlled House hasn't acted is because a few far-right members object and House Republican leadership is afraid of upsetting them by passing a bipartisan bill.

"Taxpayers expect Republicans to do their job. Republican leaders need to listen to the American people and hold bad actors accountable for wrongfully detaining and recklessly killing U.S. citizens. Unfortunately, Congressional Republicans seem more focused on trying to shield the Trump Administration from accountability than they do from actually having an effective Department of Homeland Security that is capable, competent, well-trained, and equipped to keep Americans safe and fulfill its mission while upholding the Constitution," said Reed.

For weeks, Republican leaders have been discussing plans for another party-line reconciliation bill that cuts Democrats out and allows them to jam bad policy through and prevent ICE reforms and accountability. President Trump says he wants the ICE reconciliation bill passed and on his desk by June 1.

"Republicans tried and failed to use this shutdown for leverage on totally unrelated issues, like anti-voter measures. Instead of dragging their feet, they should start listening to the American people, who want government to work. They want law enforcement to be accountable and not trample on their rights. Democrats support law enforcement and border security and the essential functions of government. Our point all along has been clear, simple, and remains widely popular: the federal government may not trample on the rights of the American people. That is not too much to ask. In fact, it is the bare minimum."

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