The Department of Homeland Security remains largely non-operational as a political impasse between Democrats and Republicans continues to stall efforts to reform immigration agencies. This deadlock has left critical DHS components, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), in a state of uncertainty.
DHS shutdown continues as Noem faces lawmakers
Overseeing a broad range of essential services, DHS also manages the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the U.S. Coast Guard, among others. As the partial shutdown drags on, many of these workers have started to miss paychecks, adding financial strain to their already burdensome roles.
During a hearing on Tuesday, Noem sharply criticized Democrats for their lack of support on legislation needed to fund the DHS, labeling their actions as “reckless” and “unnecessary.” “It harms the men and women who work at DHS and their families,” she asserted, underlining the personal toll of the ongoing funding lapse.
The shutdown, which began on February 14, shows no signs of resolution. Despite ongoing exchanges of reform proposals between Democrats and the White House, a compromise remains elusive, leaving many to wonder when a breakthrough might finally occur.
“It harms the men and women who work at DHS and their families,” she said.
The funding lapse began on Feb. 14. And although Democrats and the White House have been trading proposals for reforms in recent weeks, an imminent breakthrough has appeared far off.
The House is set to vote later this week on a measure to fund the department as GOP leaders work to put pressure on Democrats. But Democrats haven’t expressed willingness to change their position. A similar effort failed in the Senate last week.
The Trump administration’s immigration crackdown has remained funded despite the shutdown, since ICE and CBP received an influx of funds as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year.
Noem accused Senate Democrats of holding the department “hostage,” and said critical functions are “strained.”
Noem faces heavy criticism at Senate hearing
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Noem’s testimony Wednesday comes after she appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, where she ran into intense criticism from Democrats and a pair of Republicans.
While the bulk of GOP senators offered support for the administration’s immigration enforcement operation, GOP Sens. John Kennedy of Louisiana and Thom Tillis of North Carolina critiqued the DHS secretary.
Kennedy questioned Noem about the decision to spend millions of dollars on television advertisements that feature her prominently, along with her comments linking Alex Pretti and Renee Good to domestic terrorism. But it was Tillis’ exchange with Noem that was the most striking.
Tillis heavily criticized the DHS secretary for her handling of immigration enforcement, using his allotted time for a “performance evaluation,” rather than a line of questioning.
“What we’ve seen is a disaster under your leadership,” he said. Tillis threatened to block the Trump administration’s nominees and bring Senate business to a halt until Noem answers his questions and addresses concerns about stonewalling investigations.
Democrats mostly focused on the Minnesota crackdown and the fatal shootings of Pretti and Good. Given multiple opportunities to apologize for her comments about domestic terrorism shortly after their deaths, Noem declined. She expressed her condolences for their families and pledged to “continue everyday to get up and to work hard to give everybody factual information.”
While Noem testifies, another House panel will hear from Minnesota’s Walz
As Noem is set to testify before the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday, including about the Minneapolis immigration crackdown, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is testifying before another committee on Capitol Hill.
The House Oversight Committee will hear testimony from Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison in a hearing concerning Minnesota fraud at 9 a.m.
Ellison testified at a Senate hearing that also featured testimony from the leaders of ICE, CBP and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services last month. That hearing focused on the recent surge of agents to the state, as both sides pointed fingers at the other for mishandling of the situation in Minnesota.
