Schumer, Dems block DHS funding again as Trump intervenes to pay TSA agents
The Senate was again unable to end the Homeland Security shutdown on Thursday despite signs of a possible breakthrough to end the long-running closure, which prompted President Donald Trump to...
By Fox News · Fox News
The Senate was again unable to end the Homeland Security shutdown on Thursday despite signs of a possible breakthrough to end the long-running closure, which prompted President Donald Trump to make a move. Senate Democrats blocked Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding for a seventh time as the partial shutdown entered its 41st day on Thursday, after Senate Republicans made a new offer earlier in the day after late night negotiations. Trump then ordered DHS to pay airport workers on, and accused "their ‘Leader,’ Cryin' Chuck Schumer," of making it clear where Democrats stand, "and that is, ON THE SIDE OF CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS, AND NOT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE." "I am going to sign an Order instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation, and to quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports," Trump said on Truth Social. "It is not an easy thing to do, but I am going to do it!" Still, several other components of the agency, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, are still without funding. DEMS BLOCK DHS FUNDING AFTER GOP REJECTS THEIR COUNTER, THUNE SAYS SCHUMER 'GOING IN CIRCLES' The vote stayed open for several hours to allow for talks between both sides to continue, but by the fifth hour, Trump pulled the trigger on funding the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). "We've held the vote open for five hours to give the Democrats an opportunity to come to the table," Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., told reporters. "They have not. And now, time is up." Earlier in the day, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said he believed talks between the two sides are making progress. And despite Thune saying just a day earlier that there was "no point" in sending Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Democrats another compromise proposal, Republicans did just that. "Dems are in possession of what I think is our last and final [o…