U.S. Department of Homeland Security shutdown enters the third week; the White House presents a new proposal to the Democrats

Financial Associated Press, February 28 (Editor: Zhou Ziyi) On Friday (February 27), Democratic members of the U.S. Congress announced that they have received a supplemental proposal from the White House regarding funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

Since February 14, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has been shut down. Currently, the shutdown has entered its third week due to the failure of bipartisan lawmakers to reach an agreement on immigration enforcement restrictions.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated in a release, “We have received a response from the White House and are carefully reviewing its contents. Democrats remain committed to pushing for meaningful reforms to curb the actions of the Immigration Bureau and prevent violence.”

Reports indicate that Congress is expected to take action on the funding bill as early as next week.

Funding Bill Still Stalled

Last month, negotiations over the Department of Homeland Security funding proposal became more tense after federal immigration enforcement officers shot and killed two U.S. citizens during an immigration surge in Minneapolis.

Democrats are demanding reforms to the department’s immigration enforcement strategies. They want to ban federal immigration officers from wearing masks, require them to be equipped with body cameras, and obtain search warrants from the judiciary before entering homes. They have also proposed other reforms. However, the White House and Republicans oppose the mask ban and the requirement for search warrants.

On Monday (February 23), Senate Democrats again rejected the House-passed Department of Homeland Security funding bill, and negotiations continue. On that day, the Senate voted 50-45 in favor of advancing a DHS funding bill already approved by the House, but it did not meet the required 60 votes to proceed to substantive debate.

Currently, due to the ongoing shutdown, agencies under the Department of Homeland Security (such as the Transportation Security Administration, Coast Guard, and Federal Emergency Management Agency) may be forced to operate without pay.

As a result, these personnel will face financial pressures. Air traffic controllers and airport security personnel may take sick leave or be absent more frequently, potentially leading to flight delays and cancellations.