President Trump has announced a new approach from congressional Republicans to bypass Democratic efforts to halt funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
As the partial government shutdown stemming from the partisan battle over funding for the department continues, Trump called on GOP lawmakers to use a budget reconciliation bill to fund DHS for the remainder of his presidency. In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump blasted Democrats for their approach to border security and for their failure to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“America thanks each and every one of our wonderful Police, Border Patrol, ICE, and others, for their work to protect our Cities, Towns, Streets and, indeed, our Country itself. Unlike Republicans, Democrats want to DEFUND the Police, Border Patrol, and all Immigration Enforcement. They want to allow Criminals, the Mentally Insane, and Lunatics from all over the World to come into our Country, totally unvetted and unchecked, putting Americans in serious danger,” President Trump said.
Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., told reporters on Monday that the Senate was in the process of drafting a reconciliation bill to send to the House of Representatives. “We’re coming back with reconciliation…that actually funds DHS for the next three years,” Sen. Hoeven said. “We’re not going through this again with the Dems.”
Hoeven cited the offers made by Republicans to accommodate Democratic lawmakers’ demands, but said they had all been rejected. “We’ve been at it for 40 days,” Hoeven said. “They clearly wanted this shutdown.”
The reconciliation process allows the party holding the majority in the House and Senate to bypass the filibuster to pass legislation. Trump endorsed the plan and called on Republican leadership to move quickly on the bill.
“That’s why we are going forward to fund our incredible ICE Agents and Border Patrol through a process that doesn’t need Radical Left Democrat votes, and bypasses the Senate Filibuster,” President Trump said. “We are going to work as fast, and as focused, as possible to replenish funding for our Border and ICE Agents, and the Radical Left Democrats won’t be able to stop us. We will not allow them to hurt the families of these Great Patriots by defunding them. I am asking that the Bill be on my desk NO LATER than June 1st…Through simple unification, Republicans can do this without the Democrats!”
Trump concluded his post by warning that Democratic lawmakers would resume the Biden administration’s border policies if they regain power.
“These Radical, Weak, and Incompetent Democrats have made clear that if they resume power, they will never again provide funding to secure our Border, or enforce our Immigration Laws,” President Trump said. “They want America to be OPEN AND AVAILABLE to Violent Criminals, Thugs, and Lowlifes, not our Great and Loving American Patriots. Don’t forget that in November. WIN THE MIDTERMS!”