House Republicans from the Homeland Security and Appropriations Committees have criticized Senate Democrats for blocking a full-year funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for Fiscal Year 2026. The House had previously passed the bill with bipartisan support, but Senate Democrats declined to extend DHS funding, resulting in a shutdown scheduled to begin at midnight.
Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY), expressed concern about the potential impact of another funding lapse. He stated:
“Right now, our country faces a pivotal time for our homeland security, and I worry another lapse in funding for the department will have even longer-lasting impacts than the last. TSA and the Secret Service are preparing for millions of visitors for the World Cup and America 250 celebrations, FEMA is preparing for hurricane season while helping the nation recover from a brutal winter storm, the U.S. Coast Guard is interdicting a record amount of drugs and combating the smuggling of sanctioned oil, and CISA is defending our networks from relentless adversaries while preparing for midterm elections this fall.
“It is unacceptable that many of these frontline personnel could lose their paychecks for the second time in six months because of Washington’s dysfunction. The resilience of our transportation systems, critical infrastructure, emergency response, and more should not be held hostage by partisan politics. DHS’s work is essential, and it is critical for the department and its frontline personnel to have the stability of long-term funding. Any disruption to the department’s core missions caused by a lapse in funding can only make Americans less safe.”
House Committee on Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) also commented:
“A shutdown is not a strategy – even if Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats treat it like one. It is a setback for national security and for American families. TSA, Coast Guard, and Secret Service personnel will be forced to work without pay. FEMA disaster response will slow. Cyber defenses and counterterrorism efforts will weaken. Law enforcement programs that protect children and trafficking victims will be impacted. The House acted in good faith and passed a bipartisan, full-year funding bill to prevent this very outcome. We did our job. A DHS shutdown doesn’t advance oversight or policy – it only shifts the burden onto frontline personnel and the communities they serve. The damage is real, and the nation will feel it.”
Mark Amodei (R-NV), Chairman of Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, criticized Democratic leadership:
“Under the leadership of Chuck Schumer, progressive Democrats are now demanding that Congress weaken interior immigration enforcement or risk shutting down the entire Department of Homeland Security. If you think that’s acceptable because you oppose ICE or Border Patrol operations, it’s worth remembering that DHS funds far more than immigration enforcement. Threatening to shut it down puts core national security functions at risk. Policy disagreements are not the responsibility of the appropriations process; rather, they should be taken up with the authorizing committees. I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to reflect on the lessons of the longest government shutdown in history, which proved it accomplishes nothing.”
Michael Guest (R-MS), Chairman of Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement as well as member of House Appropriations Committee said:
“This shutdown is driven by the Democrats in the Senate. DHS funds more than just ICE. DHS pays the salaries of 260,000 men and women over 22 different agencies. The men and women at DHS are just now digging out of last year’s shutdown. The House already passed bipartisan legislation to fund DHS, and this Democrat-led shutdown was completely avoidable.”
Dale Strong (R-AL), Chairman of Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology added:
“Once again, we see Democrats attempting to use a shutdown to gain political points. While they hold DHS funding hostage, they hurt critical functions and brave men and women of FEMA, TSA, and Coast Guard.”
Rep Tony Gonzales (R-TX), also serving on House Appropriations Committee stated:
“While Republicans are standing strong and focused on defending our homeland, Democrats are holding funding for Department of Homeland Security hostage. Funding for DHS supports critical agencies like U.S Coast Guard Secret Service CISA TSA FEMA CBP I’m dedicated to putting Americans’ safety first ensuring we ready able respond security threats may come way.”
A government shutdown would require many among DHS's workforce—over 250000 employees—to work without pay until new appropriations pass through Congress; however Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) Customs Border Protection (CBP) would continue operating due to prior appropriated funds though other components such as disaster response cybersecurity transportation security infrastructure protection would face disruptions.
Earlier this year Congress passed several final appropriations bills including one providing full-year bipartisan support specifically targeting improvements such as body cameras deescalation training transparency resources Inspector General's office additional support Federal Emergency Management Agency Transportation Security Administration U.S Coast Guard Cybersecurity Infrastructure Agency among others.
Recent congressional hearings highlighted testimony from leaders at ICE CBP USCIS who warned that any interruption in agency operations could undermine coordination between departments hamper mission effectiveness while officials from FEMA TSA CISA Coast Guard voiced similar concerns about operational risks tied directly lapses federal funding.
In October 2025 an earlier government closure led by Senate Democrats resulted in what became longest U.S history affecting various authorities under Department such as Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System powers cybersecurity information sharing state local tribal grant programs National Cybersecurity Protection System TSA screening services program.
