Republican leaders in Congress are crafting an appropriations bill that would fund every agency through the end of the current fiscal year – except for the Department of Homeland Security.
According to lawmakers and congressional aides familiar with the proposal – which has not been formally introduced as a bill – DHS would only be funded through March or April, in order for Republicans to voice disapproval over President Obama’s recently announced executive actions on immigration.
President Obama announced recently a plan that would defer deportation on millions of people living in the country without legal permission and would extend work permits on certain conditions.
Congress must pass a funding bill or continuing resolution by Dec. 12 or face the possibility of another government shutdown.
Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, said in a statement he was “deeply disappointed” that DHS funding was now subject to partisan politics and political games.
“Funding the department with a continuing resolution and not a long-term measure hurts its day-to-day and future operations and creates uncertainty throughout the agency. Simply put, it’s inefficient and counterproductive,” Carper said.
He said without full-year funding the Secret Service would be unable to hire and train new agents and the Border Patrol would be unable to fund new border surveillance technology. A lack of funding would also undermine morale across DHS, Carper added.
“It’s time for Congress to put politics aside, work together, and do what’s right for our nation,” Carper said.
