Washington Examiner columnist Joe Concha said Monday that congressional Democrats “don’t seem to care” about the nation’s security as the partial government shutdown continues.
The Department of Homeland Security has been operating without funding since Feb. 14. Some network anchors have asked if it’s “responsible” for Democrats to hold up this funding as the United States faces potential terrorist attacks amid the military operation in Iran, “Operation Epic Fury,” to which Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) said Republicans have voted down these attempts. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) said Sunday he won’t fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but would be willing to fund other DHS agencies.
Concha contended that Democrats “own this” shutdown, and some media outlets are starting to press them about it.
“They don’t seem to care that national security is at risk,” Concha said on Fox News’s Fox & Friends First. “The goal is power. The goal is the midterms. The goal is taking back the House so they can put Donald Trump in impeachment for perpetuity, and at this point, I think they know they’re losing that narrative.”
Concha predicted Congress will make “movement” on funding DHS this week. He highlighted how incredibly long lines “going into parking lots” are plaguing airports, and said, “Who knows who’s in those lines,” as airline security is at stake.
Transportation Security Administration officers have said that financial stress, staffing shortages, and rising callouts are beginning to affect screening operations at airports nationwide as thousands of workers continue to miss paychecks. About 60,000 TSA employees have been working for a full month, receiving reduced pay.
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Some airports have requested donations of food or gift cards to give employees amid the shutdown. Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport has also asked travelers to arrive at least two hours before their departure.
President Donald Trump said last week he would be willing to sign legislation to reopen DHS, an exception to his vow not to sign any legislation until the Safeguarding American Voter Eligibility Act reached his desk.
