Congress Scrambles as DHS Shutdown Hits 73 Days

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has now gone unfunded for 73 days, making it the longest DHS shutdown in American history, and the pressure on Congress to act is reaching a boiling point.

Representative Keith Self (R-TX) placed the blame squarely on Democrats, claiming they "will not fund ICE and CBP," the agencies responsible for immigration enforcement and border patrol. Self argued Democrats are deliberately blocking those funds to protect undocumented immigrants living in the U.S.

"The Democrats are absolutely adamant, even after an assassination attempt, they're saying they will not fund ICE and CBP," Self added.

Democrats, however, have countered that they're willing to fund most of DHS, just not those specific immigration enforcement agencies.

That disagreement is exactly what has paralyzed Congress for over two months.

Current Results

This comes as POLITICO reported more than 1,110 TSA officers, the agents who screen passengers at airports, have resigned since the shutdown began in February. Furthermore, officials are warning that airport security lines could become dangerously backed up during the upcoming the busy months.

Replacements reportedly need 4 to 6 months of training, meaning there's no quick fix, even if a deal is reached tomorrow.

To add, money is also running out fast. DHS has been operating on a $10 billion emergency fund, but Secretary Markwayne Mullin warned that it will be gone by early May.

After that, tens of thousands of federal workers, including Secret Service agents and Coast Guard members, could stop receiving paychecks entirely.

The Senate actually passed a bill to fund most of DHS, but Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has refused to bring it to a House vote, calling it "haphazardly drafted." His hesitation has frustrated even fellow Republicans.

With paychecks on the line, airport security thinning out, and a major international sporting event weeks away, the clock is ticking for lawmakers to find common ground, or face some serious real-world consequences.