Trump to Hold Talks with Democrats Over DHS Shutdown
"I will," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Washington, when asked directly whether he would engage Democrats on DHS funding this week.
The partial shutdown took effect early Saturday after Congress failed to pass a funding bill ahead of a midnight Friday deadline. Democrats blocked the measure, demanding sweeping reforms to DHS — and specifically to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — whose aggressive enforcement operations across American cities have ignited fierce public opposition.
Trump showed no willingness to absorb blame, squarely pinning responsibility on the opposing party.
"This has nothing to do with Republicans. This is a Democrat shutdown," he said.
The standoff is the culmination of weeks of tense back-and-forth between Democrats and Republicans over the scope and oversight of immigration enforcement bodies, including ICE and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The flashpoint intensified following the killing of two American citizens by ICE agents in Minnesota in January — an incident that galvanized Democratic demands for stricter accountability measures, including a ban on ICE officers wearing masks, mandatory body camera activation, and the requirement of visible identification at all times.
Despite those demands, Trump stood firmly behind his enforcement agencies.
"We're going to protect law enforcement. We're going to protect ICE. They're part of the whole system that is working," he said.
The funding lapse ripples across DHS and its full network of constituent agencies, dealing potential disruptions to the Secret Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Workers classified as essential face the grim prospect of reporting to duty without compensation, while others risk outright furlough.
Notably, ICE and CBP — the two agencies at the center of Democratic anger — are expected to escape significant operational disruption, shielded by provisions embedded in Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed last year.
Lawmakers are anticipated to return to the negotiating table in an effort to end the impasse, though no timeline for a vote has emerged. Should the partial shutdown persist, the human cost could mount rapidly — with potentially tens of thousands of federal employees compelled to work without pay and some agencies forced to pare back staffing until appropriations are restored.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
