Senate Republicans Again Block Bill to Fund TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard & Cyber Defense Agency

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Senate Republicans once again blocked a straightforward bill to fund every agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) -- except Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Office of the Secretary -- while Congressional Republicans drag their feet in ongoing negotiations over common-sense reforms to rein in ICE and Border Patrol.

Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, sought unanimous consent to pass her legislation to fund DHS agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Coast Guard, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and other important DHS functions while talks on ICE and CBP proceed. If Republicans had not objected, TSA agents, the Coast Guard, FEMA and CISA among others would have been one step closer to being paid.

"Hardworking federal employees at these agencies are currently on the job without a paycheck because Republicans would rather withhold their pay than ask ICE officers to follow the same laws and guidelines as every other law enforcement agency in America. Americans across the country overwhelmingly support these overdue reforms and have been calling for them since the cold blooded killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti in January of 2026. Instead of making needed reforms, the Trump Administration thinks it can get away with causing disruptions to people's travel plans and trying to blame Democrats. It won't work. Republicans control the White House, the House, and Senate. Democrats are ready and willing to fund every agency out there save the three immigration agencies that need serious reform and are impeding investigations into criminal wrongdoing. We will not allow the Trump Administration to continue trampling people's rights with no justice and no accountability," said Reed.

While the ouster of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was overdue and opened a potential path to reform DHS, Republicans continue to block real, commonsense reforms and guardrails needed to protect American citizens, taxpayers, and human rights. The proposed ICE restrictions and reforms Senator Reed is backing include:

• Requiring ICE agents to wear and use body cameras, just like local police
• Removing masks and limiting the concealment of agents' identities
• Ending warrantless, roving patrols
• Protecting schools, hospitals, and places of worship from ICE
• Preventing racial profiling
• Prohibiting the wrongful detainment or deportation of American citizens

Reed serves on the Appropriations Committee with Senator Murray, whose unanimous consent (UC) request was blocked today by U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-AL).

After UC was blocked, Senator Murray stated on the Senate floor:

"The problem right now-the reason we are here at an impasse-is not because Democrats don't want a deal-that is ridiculous. It's not because we aren't willing to talk-I've been talking to my colleagues across the aisle all week. The problem is that Republicans are still refusing to agree to basic measures that we need to protect Americans' basic rights and their safety the same measures we have been demanding for weeks as part of these negotiations.

"Look, this just isn't complicated, Democrats' position is simple: we want reforms to rein in ICE and Border Patrol. We also want TSA and FEMA funded-but we are not going to be blackmailed into cutting a blank check for ICE to get it done.

"So, I hope Republicans stop listening to Stephen Miller-and start getting serious about reform-or at the very least stop blocking funding for TSA, FEMA, the Coast Guard and more while negotiations on ICE and Border Patrol continue."

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Tweet