Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called on March 12 for Democrats to work with Republicans to reopen the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), citing disruptions caused by the ongoing shutdown.
The issue is significant because the DHS shutdown has led to delays at airports, interruptions in disaster assistance, and forced thousands of essential employees to work without pay. The debate highlights broader concerns about federal funding and public safety.
In her floor speech, Collins said, “Mr. President, I rise to urge my colleagues to end the reckless Democratic shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.” She described how more than 50,000 Transportation Security Administration agents are working without pay and some have left their jobs due to financial hardship. Collins criticized Democratic leaders for not responding to a White House offer intended to resolve the impasse. “We are nearly a month into the shutdown of this vital department, and today marks two weeks of the Senate Democratic leadership sitting on what is a good-faith offer from the White House to end the shutdown,” she said.
Collins also addressed proposed cuts by Democrats that would remove funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). She argued these agencies play key roles beyond immigration enforcement, including combating trafficking and protecting U.S. industry. “Do we really want to defund those vital investigations, Mr. President? I think not,” Collins said.
The Senate Appropriations Committee oversees federal expenditures as mandated by law, ensuring accountability in public money management according to its official website. The committee manages legislation related to federal funding, conducts hearings on spending proposals, and oversees government programs according to its official website. Its authority comes from the U.S. Constitution’s requirement that funds be drawn from the treasury only through appropriations made by law according to its official website. The committee is known for producing appropriations bills such as the Homeland Security Appropriations Act according to its official website.
Collins concluded her remarks by urging bipartisan cooperation: “To my Democratic colleagues, please stop playing political games when so much is at stake. Work with us to govern. Let’s be responsible.”
The outcome of these negotiations will affect not only DHS operations but also broader federal spending priorities overseen by committees like Appropriations as reported by its official website.
