By Congressman Tom Cole
Thanks to Senator Schumer and the caucus he leads, the Homeland Security shutdown has now entered its’ fourth week – and, although the White House sent an offer a week ago, there doesn’t look to be an end in sight.
Put simply, this is unacceptable. The House has now passed legislation to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security twice. And with bipartisan support I might add. Yet Senate Democrats have chosen to use our homeland and the safety of the American people as a political bargaining chip.
This is a dangerous and reckless choice, especially during this time when threats are heightened on the global stage. Now, the longer it continues, the more strain it puts on the systems designed to keep Americans safe.
National security is threatened. DHS personnel and Coast Guard servicemembers are working without pay. Training for first responders has been cancelled. A majority of the workforce at our cyber defense agency is furloughed while adversaries like Iran, Russia, and China actively target American infrastructure. Security coordination and preparation are being hampered as our nation prepares to host major global events like the 2026 World Cup.
And now – all the American people are starting to see the impact when they travel. Longer security lines at airports throughout the nation. Delays. Cancelled flights for Spring Break trips families were looking forward to. In fact, according to DHS statistics, Houston had a 165-minute wait time yesterday. Atlanta and New Orleans airports clocked in at 60 minutes and Charlotte at 47 minutes. These are real effects being felt by real Americans right now.
The Republican-led House has already acted responsibly for the American people – twice. It is time for the Senate to follow suit. Senate Democrats must join their Republican colleagues and vote to pass Homeland Security funding in order for the Department to go back to its mission of protecting our homeland. The American people are counting on them.
