Funding for Dept. of Homeland Security still unclear

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - News that President Trump is firing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem came just before Congress held another vote to end the agency’s shutdown, Thursday.

Just as members of Congress tried to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, its leader, Secretary Kristi Noem was ousted from her job.

President Trump made the announcement on Truth Social Thursday afternoon, writing that he wants to replace her with Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin (R). Apparently it won’t be enough to end the DHS shutdown

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader (D-N.Y.) was clear, “Kristi Noem has been fired, consistent with what we have demanded on behalf of the American people. But let me also make clear a change in personnel is not sufficient. We need a change in policy.”

The latest vote to fund the agency failed in the Senate just after the announcement about the change up. Republican congressional leaders have been pressuring to get Homeland Security back open, citing concerns about heightened terrorism threats after the U.S. strikes in Iran

Republican Rep. Rick Crawford represents Arkansas, “Democrats are playing games with our national security, refusing to fund our DHS. This just can’t stand. This is not the time to be playing games with funding when we have such a high threat level here.”

Democratic leaders said several more immigration policy changes have to happen at DHS in order to reopen the agency. But they don’t appear to be any closer to making a deal on the funding issues with Republicans.