“Democrats need to come to their senses and fully fund our government,” Cotton says — warning the DHS shutdown is a security risk
WASHINGTON — Sen. Tom Cotton on Monday urged Democrats to end a standoff over Department of Homeland Security funding, saying lawmakers should “come to their senses and fully fund our government” as the U.S. conflict with Iran raises concerns about potential threats at home.
In a post on X, Cotton, an Arkansas Republican and chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, argued that refusing to fund DHS “while we are in the middle of a war against the world’s worst state sponsor of terrorism is highly irresponsible.”
The comments come as DHS remains partially shut down after a lapse in funding tied to a broader fight over immigration enforcement and oversight. Federal workforce and policy outlets have reported that lawmakers have been searching for an off-ramp as the shutdown begins to affect pay and operations across parts of the department. The Washington Post editorial board has also described the shutdown as disrupting key DHS components beyond immigration enforcement, including agencies responsible for cybersecurity, disaster response and aviation security.
Republicans say Democrats are using DHS funding as leverage to impose restrictions on immigration operations, while Democrats argue that changes are needed following allegations of civil rights violations and other controversies tied to enforcement tactics. Reuters reported that Democrats have stalled DHS funding while seeking reforms and said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing scrutiny in congressional hearings over the administration’s immigration crackdown and related issues.
House Republicans have separately accused Senate Democrats of blocking a full-year DHS funding bill, saying the House passed it with bipartisan support and warning that a shutdown would undermine security operations.
Cotton’s post also tied the funding dispute to the Iran conflict, which has heightened debate in Washington over national security risks and domestic preparedness. The senator has warned publicly about possible “sleeper cell” threats and other retaliation concerns, a theme echoed in coverage of his recent interviews.
Democratic leaders have not directly responded to Cotton’s post, but their position has centered on linking DHS funding to guardrails for immigration enforcement and departmental accountability, while Republicans have pressed to separate those fights from the immediate funding question.
