Democrats Risk Shuttering Critical National Security and Disaster Programs (Again)

Democrats Prepare to Leave FEMA, TSA, the Coast Guard, and More Unfunded to Score Political Messaging Points With Their Left-Wing Base

THROUGHOUT THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS, DEMOCRATS HAVE HAD NO UNIFIED POSITION ON FUNDING LARGE PARTS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND ARE CURRENTLY FLIRTING WITH LEAVING CRUCIAL NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCIES UNFUNDED

“If [R]epublicans don’t do s*** for two weeks, DHS shuts down and there’s little incentive for us to reopen without the guardrails on ICE.” – Anonymous Democrat Aide

“House Democrats found themselves in the familiar position this week of seething at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for negotiating a deal with Republicans to keep the government funded.” (Axios: "Needs to get the hell out": House Dems fume at Schumer – 2/5/26)

“Democrats view this moment as a rare opportunity to nab policy wins, especially given the lack of clear chances to do so in the coming months and their inability to make political progress on the issue in recent years.” (The Hill: Democrats face thorny DHS negotiations while looking to capitalize on ICE fight – 2/5/26)

“Last Thursday, Schumer landed the deal with President Donald Trump and the White House to pass the five remaining government funding bills alongside a stopgap measure to keep the Department of Homeland Security [DHS] functioning for two weeks while lawmakers discuss reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.” (MSNow: Unified or divided? Inside the complicated relationship of Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries. – 2/5/26)

“But that argument wasn’t apparently good enough for Jeffries. He helped calcify the caucus against the package and voted against it himself on Tuesday.” (MSNow: Unified or divided? Inside the complicated relationship of Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries. – 2/5/26)

“Schumer cut a deal with the White House that Jeffries and his entire leadership voted against.” (Punchbowl News’ Jake Sherman: post on X – 2/4/26)

The disarray doesn’t stop there – some Democrats are explicitly calling for, or openly salivating at the idea of, a shutdown if they don’t get every one of their demands:
- “In other words, shutting down Homeland Security should be the result here if there’s no agreement by Friday on these basic demands.” – Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)
- “Chris Coons tells me there will be well north of 41 Senate Dems willing to shut down the DHS in two weeks time if statutory changes aren't made to ICE” (The Bulwark’s Sam Stein: post on X – 1/30/26)

- “‘We’re going to give [Republicans] a proposal and they should say yes to it,’ Sen. Tim Kaine told Calen. Asked if he’d help move another funding patch if Republicans object to their pitches, Kaine said, ‘I won’t say past that.’” (Politico: Inside Congress – 2/5/26)

- “If Donald Trump wants to ... issue the State of the Union with the entire Department of Homeland Security shut down, I think that is a terrible indictment of his leadership. And I do think they care.” – Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.)
- “‘It could be a huge failure’ for Senate Democrats, Ocasio-Cortez says, if they fail to secure the reforms the party are demanding.” (Axios: "Needs to get the hell out": House Dems fume at Schumer – 2/5/26)

“Jeffries has essentially threatened to allow a DHS shutdown if his demands aren't met, saying in a statement Tuesday, ‘Absent bold and meaningful change, there is no credible path forward with respect to the Department of Homeland Security funding bill next week.’” (Axios: "Needs to get the hell out": House Dems fume at Schumer – 2/5/26)

This was not the first instance of Leader Jeffries and a majority of House Democrats voting against bipartisan government funding packages:
- In March 2025, Jeffries and nearly every House Democrat voted against a measure to fund the government for the remainder of FY25. (H.R. 1968: Roll Call Vote #70 – 3/11/25)

- Then in November, after plunging the government into the longest full shutdown in history, Jeffries and all but six House Democrats voted to keep the government closed. (H.R. 5371: Roll Call Vote #285 – 11/12/25)

DEMOCRATS WALKED AWAY FROM A HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS BILL THAT THEY NEGOTIATED, WHICH INCLUDED SERIOUS REFORMS THAT DEMOCRATS TOUTED

“Democrats had previously agreed to a Homeland Security appropriations bill, which included additional money for body cameras as well as deescalation training for Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and additional oversight … of funds that have already been appropriated to DHS. Those are all things that were agreed upon when that bill was initially negotiated and supported by Democrats in the House and the Senate.” – Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.)

According to Senate Appropriations Committee Democrats, the FY26 DHS funding bill they walked away from included a number of their priorities:
- “Allocates $20 million that must be used for the purchase and operation of bodyworn cameras for ICE and CBP officers interacting with members of the public when conducting immigration enforcement operations.”
- “Directs the Department to ensure additional de-escalation training for ICE and CBP officers interacting with the public in communities across the country.”
- “Directs the Department to train all law enforcement personnel, including ICE and CBP officers and agents, on Americans’ right to record any interactions they have with them.”
- “Establishes—and funds—oversight of and transparency around how DHS is spending the $190 billion it was provided in OBBBA (which is nearly triple the total annual appropriation for DHS).” (U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Democrats: BILL SUMMARY: Homeland Security Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations Bill – 1/20/26)

When the appropriations package was released, Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said a DHS shutdown or CR would not accomplish Democrats’ goals:
- “ICE must be reined in, and unfortunately, neither a CR nor a shutdown would do anything to restrain it… [u]nder a CR and in a shutdown, this administration can do everything they are already doing—but without any of the critical guardrails and constraints imposed by a full-year funding bill.” – Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.)
But now, Democrats have walked away from their original homeland security appropriations deal, a majority of Democrats in both the House of Representatives and the Senate have opposed the deal Leader Schumer negotiated with President Trump, and many of them are willing to shut down the government if they don’t get everything they want. (H.R. 7148: Roll Call Vote #13 – 1/29/26; H.R. 7148: Roll Call Vote #20 – 1/30/26; H.R. 7148: Roll Call Vote #53 – 2/3/26; Axios: "Needs to get the hell out": House Dems fume at Schumer – 2/5/26)

DHS FUNDING INCLUDES VITAL PROGRAMS BEYOND ICE AND BORDER PATROL – INCLUDING TSA, FEMA, THE COAST GUARD, AND DISASTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

“The DHS funding bill was agreed upon through conference negotiations in a bipartisan and bicameral manner. Democrats walking away from that risks a lapse in funding for critical agencies such as FEMA, the Coast Guard, TSA, Secret Service, and more. All this does is endanger the safety of American people—a result of Democrats playing partisan politics, just as they did last year when they shut the government down for a historic 43 days.” – Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Katie Britt (R-Ala.)

Federal Emergency Management Agency: “$32.0 billion for FEMA to reinforce its commitment to state and local partners. This includes $26.4 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund, and funding for grant programs that help modernize emergency response, ensure fire departments are adequately staffed, and protect local community organizations from terrorism.” (U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations: Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 – 1/20/26)

Coast Guard: “$13.9 billion to support the Coast Guard’s operational readiness, including funding for essential pay raises for personnel and accelerating the construction of next-generation icebreakers and commerce cutters to secure America’s polar interests and inland waterways.” (U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations: Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 – 1/20/26)

Transportation Security Agency: “$10.1 billion for TSA, which includes funding for competitive pay for frontline workers to reduce turnover and installation of the world’s most advanced 3D-imaging and biometric technology to make security lines faster, smoother, and more secure than ever before. In addition, the bill provides Air Traffic Controllers with a pay raise to help combat chronic staffing shortages, reduce fatigue-related risks, and ensure the continued safety and efficiency of our national airspace.” (U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations: Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 – 1/20/26)

U.S. Secret Service: “$3.3 billion for the United States Secret Service to maintain ‘zero-fail’ mission by funding aggressive recruitment and retention to eliminate officer burnout, while modernizing high-tech training facilities and armored fleets to stay ahead of evolving threats to our nation's leaders.” (U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations: Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 – 1/20/26)

National Flood Insurance Program: “If a partial government shutdown does occur, some FEMA operations not funded by the Disaster Relief Fund, like the ability to write or renew National Flood Insurance Program policies, would once again pause as they did during last year’s 43-day shutdown. Some essential employees would work unpaid.” (Associated Press: FEMA could still support winter storm response in a shutdown, despite administration warnings – 1/29/26)