The Senate faced a setback on Friday when a bill aimed at funding the Department of Homeland Security failed to progress, amidst rising concerns over lengthy security checkpoint lines at major U.S. airports.
Democrats chose not to lend their support needed for the bill’s advancement. In response, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York announced plans to propose an alternative on Saturday, focusing solely on funding the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), responsible for passenger and luggage screening. However, this proposal is expected to face challenges during the Senate’s unusual weekend session.
Efforts to break the deadlock intensified behind closed doors on Friday. White House border czar Tom Homan engaged in discussions with a bipartisan group of senators for the second day. Democrats are pushing for reforms in immigration enforcement practices following the tragic shooting deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.
After meeting with Homan, Democratic lawmakers refrained from making public comments. Republican Senator Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, mentioned that the White House has made new proposals to resolve the impasse, though she withheld specific details.
“It’s a very fair, reasonable offer,” Collins stated, expressing hope for further negotiations on Saturday. She added, “But that depends on whether the Democrats come back with a response.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota expressed optimism about finding a potential agreement through ongoing talks with the White House. However, he questioned the Democrats’ willingness to strike a deal that would allocate more funds to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“This is a pox on everybody’s house,” Thune said. “You’ve got people standing in lines at the airports. This needs to be fixed. It needs to get resolved and there are good-faith efforts being made finally on all the relevant issues.”
On the Senate floor, Schumer said he agreed that TSA needs to be reopened as quickly as possible – but not under the terms Republicans are offering, which is to fund the entire Homeland Security department. Democrats are looking to fund TSA while continuing negotiations on Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“Tomorrow, America will see the matter crystal clear: which senators want to open up TSA, pay TSA workers, and end the chaos at our airports, and which senators are going to block TSA funding yet again,” Schumer said.
The vast majority of employees at TSA are considered essential and continue to work during the government funding lapse, but they are doing so without pay. Call-out rates have started to increase at some airports, leading to longer screening times for many passengers.
Democrats have demanded an array of policy changes as part of a funding bill that include requiring ICE agents to get a warrant from a judge before forcefully entering homes. They also are looking to require agents to wear identifying information on their uniforms and ban the use of masks.
“The American people have had enough of this rogue agency. We need to rein it in. And we are negotiating right now over how to do that,” said Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The Trump administration says it has agreed to several changes already, including expanded use of body-worn cameras, with an exception for undercover operations, and limited civil enforcement activities at certain sensitive locations, such as hospitals, schools and places of worship. Republicans also note that Trump has fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and put Homan in charge of operations in Minneapolis, actions they say show the administration’s intent to make changes in ICE’s operations.
Congress is scheduled to go on an extended break near the end of the month for a two-week Easter recess. Thune has threatened to keep senators in Washington if the impasse is not resolved.
“I can’t see us taking a break if the government is still shut down,” Thune said.
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