Senate Minority Leader Schumer Accused of Blocking DHS Funding Deal, Leaving Critical Agencies Unpaid

Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., of blocking a Department of Homeland Security funding deal and engaging in “performative politics” while frontline agencies go unpaid.

During a recent interview with reporters, Schumer told Republicans to “just go along” with what he called “common-sense proposals” from the Democrats to “rein in” President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda.

Haridopolos stated that Schumer’s resistance to compromise is prolonging a shutdown impacting critical national security operations. “It doesn’t look like right now it’s going to happen,” he said of a deal to end the DHS shutdown, which began at midnight on Saturday. “It’s a shame because, again, DHS is fundamental.”

Haridopolos emphasized that essential personnel are being caught in the middle of partisan drama on Capitol Hill. “Coast Guard, FEMA, TSA agents are to be unpaid despite doing good work,” he said.

Haridopolos stressed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement funding—the Democrats’ main target—has already been secured through 2028. “The ICE program has been funded through 2028,” he added.

The blame for the DHS shutdown, Haridopolos suggested, should be laid at the feet of Schumer and Senate Democrats. “This is, as usual, politics from the Democrats, much like when they shut the government down for over 40 days over healthcare,” he said. “They’re playing politics as they have nothing else to run on.”

Drawing a sharp contrast, Haridopolos declared, “We’re about performance; they’re about politics or theater.”

Haridopolos noted that Republicans support practical reforms for ICE, including transparency and training for agents operating in high-risk environments. “Remember, we’re in sync with the idea of let’s make sure they have body cameras,” he said. “I think ICE agents should show the challenges they face every day in places like Minneapolis, who do not want to play by the rules, who do not want to allow local law enforcement to help them out.”

“Let’s also give them more training because they’re dealing with people who are unhinged,” the congressman added.

Haridopolos made clear there are limits to how far Republicans will bend to Democrat demands. “But I’m not going to allow these agents to be doxed,” he said, referring to the act of publicly revealing someone’s personal information without consent. “These people are just following the federal law that Democrats and Republicans passed, and they have a wife and kids or a husband back at home. They deserve to be protected and not doxed.”