Senate Republican leaders urged Democrats to allow additional time to finalize funding for the Department of Homeland Security, warning that failure to act could risk disruption to critical federal agencies.
Speaking during a news conference, Republican lawmakers emphasized that roughly 90% of federal government funding measures are already in place, leaving DHS as one of the final outstanding components. They noted that the department’s responsibilities extend far beyond immigration enforcement, including FEMA disaster response, the Coast Guard, TSA operations, and federal cybersecurity infrastructure.
Republican leaders argued that negotiations between congressional leaders and the White House have been productive but remain incomplete. They said Democrats only recently received legislative text and called for a short-term extension of the current continuing resolution to allow talks to continue through the end of the fiscal year in September.
A central point of contention remains immigration enforcement. Republicans stated they are unwilling to support provisions they believe would make it “harder, not easier” for law enforcement officials to detain and remove individuals they describe as dangerous undocumented immigrants. Democrats have pushed for greater oversight and policy adjustments, framing the debate as part of broader immigration reform discussions.
With a potential shutdown looming if an agreement is not reached, both sides now face mounting pressure to secure a deal. Republican leaders signaled they are open to further negotiations but warned against what they described as holding essential agencies “hostage” during budget brinkmanship. Whether Democrats will agree to additional time or force procedural votes remains uncertain.
