Republicans say reopen DHS and pass the SAVE Act now; a string of terror incidents, natural disasters, and fraying security operations make the ongoing DHS shutdown politically risky for Democrats and dangerous for the country.
Stop the political theater. The Republican majority’s priorities should be clear: end the DHS shutdown and get the SAVE Act across the finish line. The White House pushed back in support of the SAVE Act yesterday, saying its core principles are straightforward and common sense, and “Trump won’t sign anything else until this law is passed.” Reopening DHS cannot wait while partisan fights grind federal security to a halt.
Recent events make that urgency obvious. An ISIS-inspired attack left an IED outside Gracie Mansion in New York, and a shooting in Austin, Texas killed three people and wounded at least 12 more. With Operation Epic Fury underway against Iran, officials warn of possible retaliation and activation of sleeper cells here at home, even as parts of DHS are hamstrung by the shutdown.
Beyond terror threats, natural disasters have stretched response capacity and shown the cost of a partly closed department. TSA employees face missed paychecks and airport operations risk longer lines and service gaps right when families are traveling for spring break. These are real disruptions voters notice fast, and they don’t care about ideological pinball when their travel plans or safety are on the line.
Republican lawmakers have been blunt about the stakes and the political irresponsibility on display. Vern Buchanan (R-FL):
“At a time when our nation faces serious security threats at home and abroad, the Department of Homeland Security must be fully funded and fully operational. DHS supports critical missions from securing our borders to protecting our airports, responding to disasters and safeguarding our communities. Protecting the American people should never be a partisan issue, and I urge my colleagues to put politics aside and ensure DHS has the resources it needs to carry out its mission.”
Other Republicans echoed that sentiment in force. Brandon Gill (R-TX):
“President Trump is taking decisive action to safeguard our nation against threats of extreme Islamic terror through Operation Epic Fury. If Democrats truly care about the American people and their security, they will quit this political theater and fund DHS immediately.
Pat Fallon (R-TX) spelled out the stakes plainly and with numbers that won’t be ignored:
“The Austin terror attack claimed innocent American lives and raised fears of Iranian-linked retaliation with Operation Epic Fury ongoing. Yet Democrats keep parts of DHS shut down, deliberately choosing politics over protecting our citizens. The threat is real, which is why defenses must go up, not come down. Terrorists are in our country, this is fact not rhetoric. Over 380 individuals on the terrorist watchlist tried crossing our border under Biden, with at least 99 released. After 9/11, we established DHS to safeguard the homeland from radical threats like this. Democrats must stop the partisan games, reopen DHS, and protect our country now.”
And you can start to see how the Democrats are overplaying their hand here:
In terms of public opinion, Dems may soon be at risk of overplaying their hand on blocking DHS funding.
ICE has largely been out of the headlines, TSA will miss their second paycheck on Friday, and airport lines are likely to get worse heading into Spring Break travel. That’s when the general public will start noticing and paying attention.
We got a small taste of it at some airports this past weekend. It’s only going get worse.
It’s what eventually caused Dems to fold during the 43 day shutdown last year.
Do not underestimate the power of long TSA lines spreading on social media.
I had friends who don’t pay any attention to politics text me this weekend asking if their airports were going to have issues. None of them even knew there was a shutdown prior to this last weekend.
It makes me want to pull my hair out that they don’t stay informed – but more people will now be paying attention & looking for someone to blame.
The political logic is simple: when routine services and frontline security work start breaking down, the public looks for answers and accountability. Democrats chose to lock portions of DHS over a dispute framed around ICE and deportation operations, even though those operations are funded through 2029 under recent legislation commonly referenced as the Big Beautiful Bill. The consequence is fewer resources where they matter most.
Operational problems are already visible at airports and ports of entry, and morale among TSA and other federal workers is collapsing when paychecks are delayed. This is not abstract policy debate; it affects travelers, first responders, and families in harm’s way. Reopening DHS and securing the department’s mission should be the immediate, nonnegotiable priority.
Passing the SAVE Act is the other essential piece: fix policy gaps, restore clear leadership, and give border and homeland security the tools they need. Republicans insist on both: reopen DHS now and move common-sense enforcement measures forward. The country deserves a functioning homeland security apparatus, not political brinkmanship that leaves Americans exposed.
