Senate Democrats Thursday blocked a Department of Homeland Security funding bill for the third time, despite their Republican colleagues’ concern that it is dangerous to keep the department shut down amid the growing conflict with Iran.
In the House Thursday, four Democrats voted with Republicans to reopen the department, but the Senate’s action means the shutdown will continue.
Democrats say President Trump’s decision to start a war against Iran does not override the need to crack down on his deportation force at home. Most in the party are refusing to vote for a DHS funding bill without changes to the administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
DHS has been shut down since Feb. 14, when stopgap funding expired. However, the department’s functions that are considered essential are continuing, with employees working without pay. Some employees of agencies like FEMA, TSA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency under DHS have been furloughed.
Thursday’s 51-45 procedural vote in the Senate fell short of the 60 needed to overcome a filibuster and advance the DHS funding bill. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman was the only Democrat to side with Republicans in support.
“The illegality, brutality and violence that have so repulsed the American people have to be stopped,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Democrat, saying the conflict with Iran “in no way excuses us from enforcing the reforms that the American people want and are demanding.”
SEE ALSO: Four Democrats join GOP to approve House bill to end DHS shutdown
For weeks now, Democrats and the White House have traded a few offers on immigration enforcement policy changes that could be made to the DHS funding bill, but remain far apart.
Senate Republican Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming said Democrats blocking funding for DHS “is a cheap publicity stunt for the radical left and a costly danger for our country.”
“Now that America has struck Iran, the number one threat to our homeland is the threat of terrorism,” he said. “Last weekend in Austin, Texas, a lone-wolf terrorist opened fire into a crowded establishment — killing three Americans and wounding over a dozen more. The shooter was wearing a T-shirt with the Iranian flag under a sweatshirt that said, ’Property of Allah.’ The warning lights are flashing red.”
The Senate vote was an attempt to advance a House-passed DHS funding bill from February that contained minimal changes Democrats sought to crack down on immigration enforcement, such as enhanced training for agents and $20 million for body cameras.
The House passed that bill again Thursday in a 221-209 vote just hours after the Senate vote failed.
“Shutting down the Department of Homeland Security over [a] partisan fight hasn’t changed the stakes, but maybe knowing how critical it is to keep the homeland safe at this heightened moment, Democrats will side with reason and protecting the nation,” House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, Oklahoma Republican, said.
SEE ALSO: Trump boots Kristi Noem, picks Markwayne Mullin as new DHS secretary
But the number of Democrats voting to fund DHS dropped from seven in January to four on Thursday. The four were Reps. Henry Cuellar of Texas, Don Davis of North Carolina, Jared Golden of Maine and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democratic appropriator, called the GOP effort “political theater” and “a cynical attempt to extract more funding for lawless agencies because of a crisis that the president has created without an imminent threat.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, Louisiana Republican, told reporters Wednesday that “everybody in America better watch” to see who votes against the funding.
“Anybody who votes to block funding for the homeland, it is shameful,” Mr. Johnson said. “I don’t know how to describe it. It speaks to a long record of Democrats’ deliberate efforts to undermine America’s safety and the essential operations of DHS.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, South Dakota Republican, criticized Democrats for keeping the government shutdown and having federal employees continue without pay.
Mr. Trump on Thursday removed DHS Secretary Kristi Noem from the post and tapped GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to replace her. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer said Democrats should not vote to confirm Mr. Mullin without policy changes in place.
Mr. Mullin told reporters he would sit down with Mr. Schumer and Democrats and try to earn their support.
“If they have real concerns, I’m going to listen to it, I’m going to see if it’s practical, but nothing’s going to prevent me from doing my job,” he said. “I’m going to enforce the policies and the laws that Congress has passed.”
