GOP points to Iran conflict to pressure Democrats to end DHS shutdown

Republicans are pointing to the U.S. attack on Iran in order to ramp up pressure on Democrats to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Democrats have demanded that the White House significantly overhaul its immigration enforcement tactics following the deaths of two U.S. citizens in Minnesota at the hands of federal agents, and have refused to support any DHS funding legislation until those changes are made.

But Republicans argue that the escalating conflict with Iran is heightening threats to the homeland, which makes it dangerous for the department to remain shut down.

And they plan on bringing a DHS bill to the floor of the House Thursday for a vote, a source told The Hill. The House Rules Committee is scheduled to take up the bill during a meeting on Tuesday.

“Following the successful strikes on Iran and the FBI’s warning of elevated threats here at home, it is dangerous for Democrats in Washington to keep the Department of Homeland Security shut down,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) wrote on X. 

“This week, we are calling on House Democrats to end their dangerous games by bringing to the floor legislation to end the DHS shutdown so we can ensure agencies can protect America during this dangerous time,” he added. 

The bill Republicans plan to bring to the floor is largely the same as the one that passed the lower chamber in January, before the death of 37-year-old Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti sparked outrage among Democrats and intensified calls to rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

Both chambers earlier this year passed a massive government funding package that included a two-week stopgap measure to fund DHS. But the measure expired early Feb. 14, triggering a DHS shutdown that has dragged as the White House and Democrats remain deadlocked over a deal.

It’s unclear how Democrats in either chamber will respond to the latest pressure. Some immediately dismissed the GOP argument.

“So, the Republicans are saying that, because they launched an illegal, disastrous war in Iran, we should give them permission to continue using ICE to murder American citizens, to allow them to get the funding to tear gas schools?” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee, said on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” Sunday. 

“No, we need to stand up for the American citizens that ICE is murdering, the kids that they are terrorizing. They should stop this illegal war and they should stop ICE from terrorizing our communities. We should demand that they do both things,” he added.

But in the House all eyes will likely be on the seven Democrats who had joined Republicans to vote for the DHS bill in January, before Pretti was killed: Reps. Henry Cuellar (Texas), Don Davis (N.C.), Laura Gillen (N.Y.), Jared Golden (Maine), Vicente Gonzalez (Texas), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (Wash.) and Tom Suozzi (N.Y.). 

There’s also the question of whether the bill can clear the Senate filibuster, which would require some Democratic support. Senate Democrats blocked the previous House-passed DHS funding bill last week.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has been the lone Democrat in voting to advance a full-year DHS funding bill.

He wrote on X that he was “baffled” by the reluctance of many of his Senate colleagues to back the U.S. military action against Iran.

Fetterman was also one of eight Democrats who voted to reopen the government after the record-breaking, 43-day shutdown last year. The other seven on that list, who have voted multiple times against funding DHS since Pretti was killed, have yet to speak out on the issue after the strikes on Iran began.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said late last week that they were reviewing a counteroffer made by the White House to end the shutdown. But since the strikes on Iran began, both leaders have been mum on the path forward, even as thousands of DHS employees either missed their first paycheck or only received a partial paycheck on Friday. 

“It is wrong that TSA, Coast Guard, CISA, Secret Service & FEMA workers are not being paid. This is terrible time for DHS to be shutdown… its job is to protect the homeland. It would be gross negligence for Schumer and Jeffries to continue the shutdown,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) wrote on X. 

Rep. Vince Fong (R-Calif.), a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, wrote on X that “it is more important now than ever that @DHSgov be fully funded. Every agency tasked with protecting our nation must have the resources they need.”

“The security of our homeland is not a game. I call on my colleagues in the Senate to act swiftly to ensure DHS can respond to any threat or adversary we may face. We cannot afford delays,” Fong wrote on X. 

When asked how long the war might last, President Trump told CNN in an interview on Monday morning, “I don’t want to see it go on too long. I always thought it would be four weeks. And we’re a little ahead of schedule.”

He also added that the “big wave” of the operation is yet to come. 

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is set to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday and the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Democrats are expected to press her on the White House’s immigration crackdown. 

“The people want ICE to start behaving legally, and they don’t want wars overseas. So I think this is a pretty clear case of Democrats standing with the American people when it comes to domestic crises and international crises,” Murphy said.

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