As fighting intensifies overseas, Republicans push harder to get DHS funded

The department includes Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement – for which Democrats are demanding reforms– but also the Transportation Security Administration, the Coast Guard, the Secret Service and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. 

Congress has been locked in a stalemate over DHS funding for weeks, with a partial government shutdown going into effect 18 days ago. 

Since the U.S. began air strikes on Iran over the weekend, six American service members have been killed, a potential terrorist attack was carried out in Austin, Texas, and several U.S. embassies and consulates in the Middle East have been attacked. President Donald Trump has said more American casualties are “likely” in what was planned as a four-to-five-week campaign – but could stretch beyond that.

Multiple DHS agencies work on preventing and mitigating terrorist attacks but they’re starting to miss paychecks as the shutdown continues.

As the U.S. and Israel target Iranian leadership and military weapons, Iran has fought back, striking many locations across the Middle East with ballistic missiles and drones, including American military bases. Republicans have said that some guardsmen have been caught in the fray.

“There are members of the U.S. Coast Guard based out of Bahrain right now… These service members are directly in harm’s way,” wrote Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., on X Monday. “Democrats are trying to prevent these American heroes from receiving a paycheck while they risk their lives in defense of our nation. It’s disgusting.”

Democrats are holding the line on the funding, with many of them criticizing the administration for its actions overseas.

“Has President Trump learned nothing from decades of U.S. meddling in Iran and forever wars in the Middle East,” said longtime Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine in a statement. “For months, I have raised hell about the fact that the American people want lower prices, not more war – especially wars that aren’t authorized by Congress, as required by the Constitution, and don’t have a clear objective.”

The president has said he authorized military action against Iran because of their failure to stop developing their nuclear capabilities and other developing weaponry that could have soon posed a danger to the U.S.

The House of Representatives is set to vote on a slightly modified DHS funding bill on Thursday, which, if passed, would go to the Senate.