But the prospect of border agents or TSA officers going without pay, or certain programs lapsing in the absence of new funding, is being highlighted by Republicans as a standoff in Washington, D.C., enters its second day.<\/p>\n

“Senate Democrats’ decision to shut down the government in order to score cheap political points — while not surprising — is incredibly disappointing given its implications for our homeland security,” Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said in a statement.<\/p>\n

“Amid heightened threats from America’s adversaries, a lapse in government funding will dangerously undermine the Department of Homeland Security’s core mission to protect the American people,” he added.<\/p>\n

DHS<\/a> employs more than 250,000 people at agencies worldwide, including the United States Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement<\/a>, both of which are responsible for carrying out the nation’s immigration laws<\/a>. The agency also houses the Secret Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Transportation Security Administration, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and others.<\/p>\n

Democrats have refused to give Republicans the votes on a “clean,” seven-week funding bill, instead demanding healthcare concessions<\/a> as part of any agreement. Specifically, Democrats want a permanent extension of Obamacare subsidies<\/a> that expire at the end of the year.<\/p>\n

But Republicans have responded to the standoff by arguing the demands are needlessly putting agency functions at risk, with Garbarino stating that the shutdown is allowing “critical security tools to lapse, including the protections provided for public-private sector cybersecurity&nbsp<\/a>;information sharing and cyber grants for state and local government entities.”<\/p>\n

He also cited<\/a> the “authority for federal agencies to take down malicious drones in U.S. airspace.”<\/p>\n

Democrats have responded to the blame being assigned to them with finger-pointing of their own, saying Republicans, given their control of Congress and the White House, are responsible for keeping the government open.<\/p>\n

Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX), meanwhile, doubted that federal policing would be significantly interrupted.<\/p>\n

“There shouldn’t be any disruptions … most federal employees will likely be deemed essential workers<\/a> and that means they will have to go to work and not get a paycheck,” Escobar said<\/a> during an online press briefing Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Still, the issue could become a pressure point for Democrats as Republicans make the border the centerpiece of their argument against Democrats.<\/p>\n

“Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are forcing these heroic men and women to protect our borders without pay and without the resources they need to keep us safe,” House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) said in a statement to the Washington Examiner.<\/em> “Enough is enough, Democrats should stop putting the needs of illegal aliens ahead of the American people and reopen the government.”<\/p>\n

Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX) said Democrats “shamelessly” abandoned Border Patrol agents who work on the front lines.<\/p>\n

“Only Democrats hate America so much that they would hold our Border Patrol agents’ pay hostage to force free healthcare for illegal aliens,” Jackson said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Democrats deny that they want to give illegal immigrants healthcare, noting that federal law already bars them from receiving benefits. But Republicans have cited their demand that Medicaid reforms in Trump’s tax law be reversed, some of which sought to restrict the limited instances in which noncitizens can access services.<\/p>\n

Rep. Monica De La Cruz (R-TX), whose district runs along the U.S.-Mexico border, blamed Senate Democrats for not voting to support the GOP-led funding bill on Wednesday. This is the third time the bill has been brought to the floor and failed.<\/p>\n

“Democrats have supported this in the past, but instead chose to play political games, block the clean continuing resolution, and shut our government down,” De La Cruz said in a statement. “They are wasting taxpayer dollars and letting Border Patrol Agents, troops, and federal workers go without paychecks. It’s unacceptable.”<\/p>\n

PENTAGON WILL NOT FURLOUGH MILITARY TROOPS STATIONED AT U.S.-MEXICO BORDER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents several DHS agency employees, called on the Senate to immediately pass funding to reinstate pay and furloughed workers.<\/p>\n

“Federal employees, a third of whom are veterans, are patriotic Americans who provide essential services to communities across the country,” AFGE President Everett Kelley said in a statement<\/a> on Wednesday. “These employees should be able to do their jobs free of political interference. Instead, these employees and the services they provide are being thrown into chaos because Congress refuses to act.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n