Former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has urged lawmakers to end the ongoing partial government shutdown, warning it is becoming “madness” without immediate funding resolution.
Speaking on Sunday’s “Cats Roundtable” radio show hosted by John Catsimatidis on WABC 770 AM, Johnson emphasized that Congress and President Donald Trump have failed in their fundamental duty: appropriating necessary funds.
“Keep the lights on. Keep the government functioning,” he stated. “Our Congress and our president [Donald Trump] are failing to do that right now. We are in a time when, because of the war with Iran, there exists a heightened threat environment.”
Johnson noted that funding for the Department of Homeland Security lapsed on February 14 after Democrats refused to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) without operational changes following the deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.
The Democrats have proposed policy adjustments including requiring ICE agents to obtain a judicial warrant before forcibly entering homes, mandating clear identifying information on uniforms with no masks, implementing body-worn cameras for all officers, allowing independent investigations into misconduct, and prohibiting operations at sensitive locations such as schools, churches, and polling places.
Despite the shutdown, most Homeland Security workers remain essential and continue working. However, over 120,000 employees are unpaid during this crisis—a situation that follows last fall’s 43-day shutdown, when some federal workers visited food banks to cover basic needs.
Democrats attempted Thursday to secure funding for most Homeland Security agencies but excluded ICE and CBP. Republicans blocked the measure, insisting the department not be funded piecemeal.
Johnson warned that “It used to be annual. Now it’s occurring several times a year, and I’m afraid it’s only going to get worse unless somebody, through strong leadership, intervenes and says, stop the madness.” He added, “And you can’t punish the workers; it’s not their fault.”
