House Speaker John Boehner says he’s ready to let funding run out for the federal Department of Homeland Security if the Senate cannot pass legislation soon to keep paying the agency’s bills.
“The House has acted. We’ve done our job,” the Ohio Republican said on “Fox News Sunday.” He responded to host Chris Wallace’s question, as to whether he was ready for DHS funding to expire, with “certainly.”
If that happens, “Senate Democrats should be to blame, very simple,” Boehner said.
Funding for the agency is slated to run out Feb. 27 as part of an effort by Republicans to roll back President Obama’s executive action on immigration, which would free 5 million illegal immigrants from fear of deportation. The Department of Homeland Security oversees numerous government and anti-terrorism functions such as the Transportation Security Administration and agencies that monitor and regulate America’s borders and immigration issues.
Wallace, who pointed out that Congress will soon be on recess for a week, asked the speaker whether he could promise that funding for DHS would not be allowed to run out. Boehner didn’t offer such a promise.
“The House has acted. We’ve done our job,” he said instead. “Senate Democrats are the ones putting us in this precarious position, and it’s up to Senate Democrats to get their act together.”
When Wallace continued to press the issue, Boehner cut him off.
“One more time: The House has done its job under the Constitution,” Boehner said, holding up a copy of the Constitution in booklet form. “It’s time for the Senate to do their job.”
Republicans have pledged not to let funding run out at the department, which oversees a wide array of critical national security programs, including airport screening, the protection of federal buildings and customs and border enforcement.
But the GOP has refused to say what its next steps will be in the likely event that Democrats continue to block the bill.
Republican aides said passing another short-term measure to keep the department running is likely if no broader deal is reached, but lawmakers won’t officially show their hand.
Washington Examiner Chief Congressional Correspondent Susan Ferrechio contributed to this story. This story originally published at 9:36 a.m. and has been updated since then.
