The White House on Monday ripped into Republican leaders after President Obama was forced to sign a seven-day extension of funding for the Department of Homeland Security, rather than a bill to keep the agency operating through September.
“That is bad policy,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters Monday.
“The fact that the president had to sign a seven-day extension … reflects the failed leadership of the Republican leadership in the House,” he added.
Obama late Friday signed a short-term spending blueprint for Homeland Security just before the department’s funds ran dry.
Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, wanted approval for a three-week extension but dozens of his members and House Democrats united to spike the measure. Democrats are now calling for a “clean” bill to keep the agency funded through the remainder of the fiscal year.
The White House is framing the episode as further proof that Boehner cannot get members of his own party in line. Conservatives counter that they are merely divided on tactics, not principles.
Republicans have struggled to unite behind a plan to roll back Obama’s executive action to spare up to 5 million illegal immigrants from deportation.
Lawmakers must now come to an agreement before Friday at midnight to ensure that DHS funding does not expire.
