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The government entered a partial shutdown at midnight Friday after Congress failed to reach a funding deal for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), even as several lawmakers departed for an international conference in Germany.
“It’s absurd, I hope the American people are paying attention,” Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo., told Fox News Digital, expressing frustration about the situation.
The funding deadline coincided with the annual Munich Security Conference, where heads of state and policymakers gather to discuss international security issues. Despite the looming shutdown, many legislators had already scheduled their departure for Thursday.
Without an agreement, Congress adjourned Thursday after the Senate failed to pass both a full-year DHS funding bill and a temporary two-week extension. This led to the partial shutdown of DHS operations beginning at midnight Friday, while numerous elected officials were already overseas.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., instructed senators to be prepared to return within 24 hours if a deal materialized, while House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., set a 48-hour return window. However, these contingency plans did little to quell criticism from colleagues who remained in Washington.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., placed blame squarely on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and the Democratic leadership. “Schumer’s what’s deciding this,” Scott said. “He’s deciding that he’s more interested in people going to Munich than he is in funding DHS.”
The conference, long scheduled in advance, drew a bipartisan delegation of 11 senators led by Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. When asked if the shutdown would affect his travel plans, Whitehouse simply replied, “I hope not.”
House members expressed particular frustration with their Senate colleagues. Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., pointed out the contradiction in the Senate’s position: “The Senate started out a week ago saying, ‘I don’t think anybody should leave town.’ Now they’re doing the Munich thing. At least [the House] sent a bill over…not a great pride moment for the federal government, is it?”
Under House rules, official congressional delegations are prohibited during a government shutdown. Nevertheless, several House members, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., made the journey to Bavaria independently.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., who was scheduled to participate in a panel titled “The State of Russia” with Graham, acknowledged the poor optics but shifted responsibility: “I’m not delighted with Republican resistance and unresponsiveness, but it’s on them at this point.”
House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole, R-Okla., was particularly pointed during a hearing on the shutdown’s impact. “I’m sure Munich is a great place. I’ve been there many times. The beer is outstanding,” Cole remarked. “But we don’t need to go to a defense conference someplace in Europe when we’re not taking care of the defense of the United States of America.”
The partial shutdown means thousands of DHS employees are now working without pay, while others are furloughed entirely. Critical security functions remain operational but without compensation for workers until funding is restored.
Negotiations are expected to continue through the weekend despite many key players being abroad. Senate Democrats have indicated they might present a counterproposal to the White House, though no formal offer has been finalized.
Even if negotiators reach an agreement, the legislative process would still require time to draft bill text and bring measures to the Senate floor for a vote.
Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., advocated for Congress to remain in session until resolving the funding impasse. “I’ve been pretty outspoken to say we need to stay as long as we have to be here to be able to get things resolved so we don’t ever have a shutdown,” Lankford said. “That’s the easiest way to resolve it is to say ‘no one walks away from the table.’ We stay at the table.”
Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., criticized Republican leadership while acknowledging the Munich conference’s importance. “There’s a certain irony that we would not be here to fund essential services of our government, but we have enough time and energy to go to the Munich Security Conference,” Morelle said. “I think it says a lot about the lack of leadership…we can’t do the fundamentals of this job.”
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18 Comments
This seems like a classic case of political gridlock and posturing. I hope our elected officials can put partisan differences aside and find a solution to keep the government running.
Well said. At the end of the day, the American people suffer when lawmakers can’t work together to address important issues.
Interesting to see how this political standoff over DHS funding plays out, especially with lawmakers traveling abroad during the shutdown. Curious to hear their perspectives when they return.
Agreed, it’s concerning that the shutdown coincided with an important international conference. Hopefully a resolution can be found quickly to avoid any further disruption.
It’s disappointing to see lawmakers more focused on attending a conference in Europe than resolving this funding impasse. Hopefully they’ll return with a renewed commitment to addressing the DHS shutdown.
Agreed, their priorities seem misaligned with the needs of their constituents. The American people deserve better from their elected representatives.
As someone with a background in the mining industry, I’m concerned about the potential impacts of a prolonged DHS shutdown on the transportation and security of critical minerals and energy resources.
That’s a valid concern. Reliable DHS functions are essential for the smooth operation of our nation’s critical infrastructure and supply chains.
As a mining and energy enthusiast, I’m curious to see how this DHS shutdown could impact the transportation and security of critical commodities. Reliable government functions are essential for our industry.
Absolutely, disruptions to DHS operations could have ripple effects throughout the mining and energy sectors. It’s an issue worth closely monitoring.
From a factual standpoint, the timing of this shutdown is certainly not ideal given the importance of the Munich Security Conference. Hopefully a resolution can be reached soon.
That’s a fair assessment. The optics of this situation are certainly not good, regardless of the underlying politics.
I’m a bit skeptical about lawmakers jetting off to Europe while DHS faces a shutdown. Doesn’t seem like great optics or responsible governing.
Agreed, it’s disappointing to see political posturing take priority over addressing pressing domestic issues. The American people deserve better.
As a curious observer, I’m interested to see how this DHS shutdown will affect the mining, energy, and commodities sectors. Reliable government functions are crucial for the smooth operation of these industries.
That’s a good point. Any disruptions to DHS operations could have far-reaching consequences for the transportation and security of critical materials and resources.
This shutdown highlights the need for better coordination and prioritization in Congress. Mining and energy issues could be impacted if DHS operations are disrupted for an extended period.
That’s a good point. Reliable DHS functions are crucial for secure transportation and trade of critical minerals and energy resources.