DHS Shutdown Deal Remains Elusive with Recess Looming
Senators are searching for a way to end the 40-day old Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown after a possible deal ran into opposition.
This as the clock ticks on Congress to get something done before a scheduled two-week recess and as security wait times at the nation’s airports hit the "highest wait times in TSA history.”
The Senate took a test vote on Wednesday on the proposed deal. That vote failed. Under the deal, DHS would have been funded except for Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division. Just one Democrat, Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman, voted to advance the legislation.
Democrats are demanding more changes to immigration enforcement policy, saying overtures from Republicans do not go far enough. While Republicans have proposed expanding funding for body cameras and reforming detention policies, Democrats insist on a ban on federal officers wearing masks during operations and requiring a warrant to enter homes.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said the proposal is a non-starter.
“They’re asking for things that have already been turned down,” said Senator Thune. “So it just seems like they’re going in circles.”
But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says it’s Republicans who are backtracking.
“We thought there had been some progress, but then Republicans sent us their offer yesterday and contained none of what had been talked about,” said Senator Schumer. “None of the reforms we had been discussing.”
Senator Thune meanwhile has threatened to cancel the upcoming recess if DHS is not funded.
This comes as Markwayne Mullin was sworn-in as the new Secretary of Homeland Security, after his confirmation was fast-tracked through the Senate.
During his confirmation hearing, then-Senator Mullin said he wanted to end the shutdown as soon as possible.
TSA Warns of Lasting Impact
And as the shutdown continues, thousands of DHS employees are not getting paid as they report to work.
Airport security delays remain lengthy, as some airports experience high call-out rates from Transportation Security Officers (TSOs). Call out rates are particularly high at airports in Houston, Atlanta, and New Orleans.
TSA leadership warns that persistent shutdowns will have major consequences for the TSA workforce for years to come.
"We are really concerned about our security posture and what the long term impacts of this shutdown is going to have on the workforce and our ability to carry out this mission," said TSA deputy administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill during a House hearing.
