### Here We Go Again: Congress Faces Another DHS Shutdown
So, here’s the deal: Congress has a measly 10 days to figure out a way to keep the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) up and running. Spoiler alert: No one seems too hopeful about reaching a deal.
The root of the problem? Immigration enforcement. Yep, the same old hot-button issue that politicians love to bicker about while the rest of us just want to know what’s actually going on. Republicans are already waving off key demands from Democrats, like making it tougher for federal agents to get warrants and banning them from wearing masks. Meanwhile, Democrats are giving the cold shoulder to the GOP’s push to crack down on “sanctuary cities.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune made it clear that getting a deal to President Trump by the February 13 deadline is a tall order. He’s not a fan of the two-week extension Democrats insisted on, and he’s not shy about saying so.
On the flip side, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is putting his foot down, declaring that another short-term fix is “off the table” for Democrats. So, what does this mean? A lengthy shutdown that’s likely to mess with all sorts of DHS functions that have nothing to do with immigration, like TSA operations and Coast Guard duties. Ironically, agencies focused on immigration enforcement are already funded through a previous budget deal.
This mess got worse after DHS agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, sparking bipartisan calls for stricter oversight of the Trump administration. Now, those same Senate Democrats who were willing to approve flat funding for DHS last month are singing a different tune.
Thune and other Republicans are already hinting that they might need more time beyond the deadline. Talks about immigration enforcement are stalled while the House focuses on a broader spending package.
And of course, there’s confusion on who’s actually in charge of these negotiations. Chuck Schumer thinks Thune should take the lead, but Thune and his crew want the White House to steer the ship while keeping congressional Republicans in the loop. Senator Brian Schatz pointed out that making a deal is going to be tough without Trump pushing Republicans out of their comfort zone.
If DHS shuts down, both sides will feel the heat. While agencies like ICE and Customs and Border Protection can keep doing their thing, the TSA and Coast Guard could see funds dry up, leading to chaos at airports and paychecks hanging in the balance for military personnel. Other key agencies like the Secret Service and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency would also be impacted.
Many lawmakers are doubtful that a deal will even materialize, considering Congress’ long history of fumbling immigration discussions. Senator Josh Hawley expressed his skepticism about combining critical agency funding with a bunch of convoluted rules.
Democrats have laid out their demands and plan to present a proposal soon, but while Republicans are open to some ideas like body cameras, they draw the line at requiring warrants for immigration officers. Speaker Mike Johnson flat-out said that adding another layer of bureaucracy is simply “unimplementable” and unnecessary.
On the Republican side, there’s a push to include penalties for “sanctuary cities” in any new deal, with Senator Lindsey Graham using a recent Oval Office event to rally support for this crackdown. Trump is all for it, encouraging Graham to push hard.
But here’s the kicker: The proposals Republicans are throwing around, like slapping criminal penalties on local officials who interfere with immigration enforcement, are basically nonstarters for Democrats. Senator Dick Durbin has already warned that getting his party on board for another funding extension will be tricky, especially since many Democrats voted against the last spending bill.
As for those who did back the previous deal, they’re already signaling that their votes can’t be taken for granted next time around. Senator Jeanne Shaheen thinks there’s still time to work something out, but she’s not wrong in pointing out that they need to start negotiating—like, yesterday.
So, brace yourselves, folks. It looks like we’re in for another round of political theater, and we all know how this one ends.
