Senate locked in staring contest on DHS as insults fly
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Senate Minority LeaderChuck Schumer speaks at the U.S. Capitol on March 24. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images
Senate Republicans and Democrats are in a high-stakes staring contest over funding the Department of Homeland Security, with Democrats refining their demands to include "guardrails" on money authorized in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Why it matters: More insults were traded Wednesday than actual counteroffers.
- The one offer that was delivered — from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) — was quickly dismissed by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.).
- "It's not even close to being real," Thune barked. "They know better."
But Schumer is holding firm. "Democrats sent Republicans our counteroffer on legislation to reopen DHS, pay TSA workers, while at the same time rein in ICE with commonsense guardrails," Schumer said.
- "Our offer is a reasonable, good-faith proposal."
Driving the news: Thune plans to go to the floor Thursday with a Republican proposal to fund TSA, FEMA and the Coast Guard, while punting ICE funding to a reconciliation package later this year.
- That vote is likely to fall short of the 60 votes required to move forward.
The other side: Democrats insisted they were not making new demands and said they were simply clarifying their position: no additional money for ICE enforcement.
- "They funded ICE with the big, beautiful bill," Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) said. "But their contention is that they can use that money however they deem necessary, without any constraints."
- "It's ridiculous," Luján added.
- "One of the issues is that, right now, much of HSI (Homeland Security Investigations) is effectively operating within ICE, doing" enforcement and removal operations, Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) said.
- "It's an illusory solution if they can staff ICE with personnel from CBP and HSI."
The bottom line: Frustration ran high among Republicans, with lawmakers warning that Americans are in danger if DHS stays unfunded.
- "People are going to get hurt," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said.
- "I went down there a couple days ago to tell the president there was a deal with the Senate. And now, all of a sudden, they've fundamentally changed the deal they agreed to."
