Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C., said Tuesday that the U.S. Senate must “take action now” to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security and end a partial government shutdown.
Harris criticized Senate Democrats for what he described as a reckless and “inexcusable” move to strip funding from key border and security agencies.
“What happened at the end of last week was inexcusable,” Harris said, pointing to a late-night Senate vote that eliminated funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.
“They voted by unanimous consent to send over and pass a funding bill that totally pulled out ICE and brought it to zero and Border Patrol to zero.”
Harris noted that the House had quickly responded by passing a measure to fully fund DHS through May 22, sending it back to the Senate. However, he expressed frustration that senators failed to act on the bill during a recent pro forma session.
“We sent something over that they ought to be able to deal with,” Harris said. “The Senate has got to take action. And I mean, take action now.”
Harris accused Democrats of prioritizing illegal immigrants over American citizens, stating: “They don’t seem to care that our homeland is vulnerable. They’re more concerned about protecting illegal aliens than they are protecting Americans.”
The ongoing standoff has left large portions of DHS unfunded, affecting agencies beyond TSA, which had its pay restored under executive action. Harris highlighted that critical personnel — including the Coast Guard, FEMA, the Secret Service, and investigators combating human trafficking — remain without funding.
“This is a critical time here in our country,” he said, warning that the funding lapse could weaken national security amid rising global tensions and concerns about threats entering through the southern border.
Harris also pointed to broader risks tied to major upcoming public events and ongoing issues such as child trafficking, saying failure to fully fund DHS puts vulnerable populations at greater risk.
“All of these things must be funded,” he said. “And the Senate has got to take action … now.”
The dispute comes as Washington faces a high-stakes funding battle, with Republicans pushing for border enforcement and national security priorities while Democrats have sought to tie funding to broader immigration policy demands.
Harris made clear that the responsibility to resolve the crisis lies squarely with Senate Democrats.
“The American people have got to demand that it stops,” he said, urging immediate action to restore full funding and ensure safety and security of the nation.
