Thune: Republicans Thwart Democrats’ Pursuit of “Defund the Police 2.0”

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WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:

Thune's remarks below (as delivered):

"Mr. President, sometimes I have to wonder if Democrats remember the last election - and how four years of record-breaking illegal immigration on President Biden's watch helped hand the House, the Senate, and the White House to Republicans.

"Because to watch the Democrat Party right now, you'd think that 2024 never happened.

"Democrats not only haven't rejected the open-borders philosophy of the Biden administration, they've doubled down.

"At least we had the Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement under President Biden.

"Now every Senate Democrat is on record as wanting to shut down those agencies.

"That's right.

"Democrats voted to defund - to defund - the agents who stand guard on our nation's borders and help prevent dangerous individuals from entering our country.

"They voted to defund the agents who remove criminal illegal immigrants who do make their way into the United States.

"And when I say defund, Mr. President, I mean defund.

"Democrats opposed giving these agencies a single dollar.

"And I hope - I really hope - that my Democrat colleagues are not going to attempt to defend themselves by claiming that they simply wanted reforms of these agencies, and that Republicans wouldn't give them.

"Because as the record amply - amply - reflects, Democrats were offered reforms again and again.

"The White House not only made reforms on its own, it repeatedly offered Democrats a robust legislative package.

"But Democrats weren't interested.

"Presumably because they somehow thought that 'defund law enforcement' and 'abolish border security' would play well for them in November.

"Of course, I'm pretty sure most Americans don't think we should eliminate security at our nation's borders, or open the floodgates for unchecked illegal immigration.

"But that hasn't stopped Democrats from embracing Defund the Police 2.0.

"Mr. President, I am happy to report that as of Friday, Democrats' crusade to defund border security and law enforcement is well on its way to failure - for now, at any rate.

"Senate Republicans passed legislation to fund Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the next three years, to ensure that Democrats can't try defunding these agencies again this fall.

"But, Mr. President, it is deeply disturbing that we are in this position - that we are having to use the reconciliation process just to get normal appropriations passed for border security and immigration enforcement.

"The damage that Democrats caused in the 2026 fiscal year has been immense.

"Two record-breaking government shutdowns.

"Critical workers at DHS left for months without pay.

"Government workers lined up at food banks.

"TSA agents quitting in droves.

"And that's not to even mention what [could] be irreparable harm to the appropriations process here in the Senate.

"And then there's our subject today, Defund the Police 2.0 - Democrats' resolute refusal to spend a single dollar protecting our nation's borders or deporting criminals here in our country illegally.

"It is absurd, Mr. President, that Republicans are having to act unilaterally to fund basic national security responsibilities.

"What is the Democrat Party going to propose defunding next?

"The DEA? The FBI? Our nation's military?

"Where exactly does this insanity end?

"The Democrat leader has repeatedly attempted to cloud the issue - going so far as to make the insane suggestion that Congress somehow has to choose between our national security responsibilities and addressing the challenges facing hardworking Americans.

"To which I say, not only can we walk and chew gum at the same time, but we have an obligation to do so.

"It is our responsibility as members of Congress to work to alleviate not only the economic challenges facing Americans but to protect our nation's security - and that includes securing our borders and attempting to ensure that criminals, drug traffickers, terrorists, and other dangerous individuals do not make their way into our country.

"And that if they do make their way in, they are identified and deported.

"Mr. President, as long as Republicans are in charge, we will be focused on both the economic challenges facing our country and on securing peace and safety for hardworking Americans.

"On our watch, there will be agents at our borders to prevent terrorists, traffickers, and other dangerous individuals from making their way into our country, and there will be agents to take criminal illegal immigrants off of America's streets.

"I wish I could say the same of our Democrat colleagues."

Permalink: https://www.thune.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2026/6/thune-republicans-thwart-democrats-pursuit-of-defund-the-police-2-0