03.11.26

Democrats’ Harmful DHS Shutdown Drags On

As National Security Threats Mount and TSA Workers Miss Paychecks, Democrats Keep Voting Against Funding the Department of Homeland Security

DEMOCRATS AGAIN BLOCKED FUNDING FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND PROPOSED A BILL TO DEFUND CRITICAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

“Democrats just tried to, once again, defund law enforcement. We’re not going back to Biden’s failed border policies and the era of ‘Defund the Police.’ Republicans are going to continue securing our border, enforcing our laws, and standing with the American people.” – Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Katie Britt (R-Ala.)

  • Today, Democrats once again blocked extending funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). (Sen. Britt: post on X – 3/11/26)
  • Rather than vote to reopen the department, Senate Democrats tried to pass their own bill, which would have defunded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the office of the secretary. (The New York Times: Senate Democrats Block D.H.S. Funding Again Over Enforcement Guardrails – 3/5/26)
  • Democrats’ political tactic would have withheld funds for vital national security functions:
    • Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which “conducts federal criminal investigations into the illegal movement of people, goods, money, contraband, weapons and sensitive technology into, out of and through the United States.” (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: Who We Are – accessed 3/11/26)
    • Enforcement and Removal Operations, which works with state and local law enforcement “to identify and remove criminal aliens.” (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: Enforcement and Removal Operations – accessed 3/11/26)

WHILE DEMOCRATS PLAY POLITICS, TSA AGENTS AND AIR TRAVELERS ARE THE ONES PAYING THE PRICE FOR THEIR SHUTDOWN

“We are very serene with what is going on.” – Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii)

  • “Unscheduled absences among airport security officers have more than doubled during the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, with more than 300 employees leaving the agency since the start of the DHS shutdown, according to internal TSA statistics obtained exclusively by CBS News.” (CBS News: TSA absences double during shutdown, 300 officers quit, as some airports see longer security lines – 3/10/26)
  • “Travelers struggled with hourslong security lines at some airports as officials warned of Transportation Security Administration staffing shortages amid the partial government shutdown.” (CNBC: TSA staff shortages lead to hourslong security lines for travelers at some airports – 3/8/26)
  • “With TSA workers set to miss their first paycheck this week, an increased number of them are taking unscheduled time off leading to long lines and delays.” (CNN: Airports see hours-long delays due to TSA shortages as Homeland Security shutdown shows no sign of ending – 3/9/26)
    • “Travelers at airports in Houston and New Orleans were greeted with hours of long waits early Sunday as the airports struggled to adequately staff security lines.” (The New York Times: Thousands Waited for Hours in Security Lines at Airports in New Orleans and Houston – 3/9/26)
    • “In Houston, only one security line was open early Sunday morning, and the T.S.A. PreCheck line, which allows for expedited screening, was closed.” (The New York Times: Thousands Waited for Hours in Security Lines at Airports in New Orleans and Houston – 3/9/26)
    • “Some travelers told WBAL-TV 11 News they waited in the security line for three hours. ‘It was chaotic. Very frustrating,’ said Adereio Jones, a traveler at BWI-Marshall who arrived from Houston. ‘Just hoping, begging for it to end. I mean, there was nothing you could do.’” (WBAL-TV11: 'Begging for it to end': BWI-Marshall normal, other airports struggling amid DHS shutdown – 3/9/26)
  • “Airlines for America, a trade association whose members include American, Delta, United and Southwest, on Sunday decried what it characterized as the use of transportation security workers for ‘political leverage’ and the subsequent delays and strain on the aviation system.”

(NBC News: TSA staffing shortages amid partial government shutdown lead to long lines at airports – 3/8/26)

DEMOCRATS’ DHS SHUTDOWN HAS DRAGGED ON AS THE COUNTRY IS IN A HEIGHTENED THREAT ENVIRONMENT

“Democrats now see government shutdowns as a handy tool to use anytime they don’t get everything that they want. And they don’t care if they force people to work without pay indefinitely. They don’t care if they put our national security and public safety in jeopardy. They only care about what’s in it for them.” – Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.)

  • “The U.S. has intercepted encrypted communications believed to have originated in Iran that may serve as ‘an operational trigger’ for ‘sleeper assets’ outside the country, according to a federal government alert sent to law enforcement agencies.” (ABC News: Iran may be activating sleeper cells outside the country, alert says – 3/9/26)
    • “The alert, reviewed by ABC News, cites ‘preliminary signals analysis’ of a transmission ‘likely of Iranian origin’ that was relayed across multiple countries shortly after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.” (ABC News: Iran may be activating sleeper cells outside the country, alert says – 3/9/26)
    • “‘While the exact contents of these transmissions cannot currently be determined, the sudden appearance of a new station with international rebroadcast characteristics warrants heightened situational awareness,’ the memo said.” (New York Post: Iran sends out suspected ‘operational trigger’ to activate sleeper cells abroad after Khamenei’s death, US officials warn – 3/9/26)
  • The U.S. has already experienced several violent attacks domestically in recent weeks:
    • “The improvised explosive devices thrown near New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s residence during weekend protests are being investigated as part of an act of ‘ISIS-inspired terrorism,’ the city’s police commissioner said Monday.”
    • “Prosecutors alleged the pair hoped to inflict more carnage than the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing that killed three people.” (NBC News: Explosives thrown near NYC mayor's home being investigated as 'ISIS-inspired' terrorism, officials say – 3/9/26)
    • “[J]ust as bars along Austin’s bustling Sixth Street were winding down for the night, a barrage of gunfire tore through the popular entertainment district in the heart of Texas’ capital, leaving three people dead and more than a dozen others injured.” (CNN: Death toll rises to 3 as officials probe whether Austin mass shooting motivated by Iran strikes – 3/3/26)
    • “While the motive for the deadly onslaught has not been confirmed, authorities are investigating whether the suspect - who was fatally shot by police - was inspired by this weekend’s US and Israeli strikes on Iran, multiple law enforcement officials briefed on the case said.” (CNN: Death toll rises to 3 as officials probe whether Austin mass shooting motivated by Iran strikes – 3/3/26)