Washington Examiner chief political correspondent Byron York said the partial government shutdown over the Department of Homeland Security funding is “absolutely crazy.”
York questioned how long the partial government shutdown can continue when the country’s transportation system is not funded.
“We’ve talked about government shutdowns in the past, and this is not that. It’s essentially a shutdown of parts of one department,” York said on Fox Business’s Kudlow Thursday. “But important parts like the TSA and the workers at TSA are not being paid.”
DEMOCRATS FACE CHOICE TO REOPEN DHS AMID FEARS OF IRAN TERRORIST PROXIES RETALIATING INSIDE US
Democrats refused to pass legislation that would fund DHS in protest after the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis by federal immigration law enforcement.
Agencies within the DHS include Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Federal Emergency Management Agency, TSA, U.S. Coast Guard, and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
Republicans have been pressuring Democrats to support the bill that would fully fund the DHS, citing heightened threats to the country after the United States and Israel launched joint strikes against Iran on Saturday.
“Democrats have determined there’s really no political price to be paid for this, and so far, as far as I can tell — they’re right,” York said.
WHAT HAPPENS TO MULLIN’S SENATE SEAT IF CONFIRMED AS DHS HEAD
Part of the Democrats’ criticism of the DHS has been of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s leadership.
President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he’s replacing Noem as secretary with Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK). Despite the new leadership, which needs congressional approval, Democrats remain critical as debates about funding loom.
