Republicans Push for DHS Funding Vote Amid Iran Conflict

Republicans in Congress are pressing for votes Thursday in both the House and Senate on a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security, citing the ongoing conflict with Iran as a reason to end the department's partial shutdown that began on February 14. The push comes amid concerns over potential retaliatory attacks at home, as essential DHS workers continue operations without full paychecks.

The House approved the funding measure in January, but it stalled in the Senate when Democrats demanded reforms to immigration enforcement practices. The impasse followed the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis, along with reports of a second such incident in the city that month. Democrats have conditioned support on changes to agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, while expressing willingness to fund other DHS components.

House Speaker Mike Johnson emphasized the timing in a statement, saying the military action in Iran makes it all the more urgent and crucial to have a fully funded, fully staffed Department of Homeland Security across all its departments. He accused Democrats of political gamesmanship,...