'Homeland Security' has spawned political insecurity since DHS was born

Analysis Politics 'Homeland Security' has spawned political insecurity since DHS was born May 24, 20265:00 AM ET Ron Elving The U.S. Department of Homeland Security flag waves outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building as seen on January 07, 2026 in Washington, DC. According to reports, a federal agent allegedly fatally shot a woman in her car during an incident in south Minneapolis. Heather Diehl/Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Heather Diehl/Getty Images Why did the U.S. Senate strike its tent last week and go home early? Because in spite of a June 1 deadline set by President Trump, Senate Republican leaders were not ready to restore funding for two key components of the Department of Homeland Security. We have reached the point where the phrase "homeland security" swiftly translates to political insecurity, and that brings the legislative machinery in Congress to a halt as the midterm elections loom. Anyone following the president's second term thus far will not be surprised that the latest DHS freeze-up concerns the Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Sponsor Message Politics Senate Republicans rebel against Trump's $1.8 billion fund Democrats have refused to provide the votes needed to fund those agencies after being rebuffed in their efforts at reform in the face of major headline-grabbing controversies. Earlier this month, Republicans thought they had a procedural workaround to get the money flowing to these parts of DHS with their own votes alone. But then the Department of Justice announced a new "Anti-Weaponization" Fund that would use nearly $1.8 billion in taxpayer money to compensate people who said they had been prosecuted or investigated by the department under former President Joe Biden. Widely expected to be first in line for compensation were many who were prosecuted or investigated for their roles or reactions to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, including those convicted of beating police...