White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt urged lawmakers on Monday to defund the Department of Homeland Security after a gunman breached security at the White House correspondents’ dinner over the weekend.
The administration has repeatedly blamed Democrats in Congress for blocking DHS funding and charged again on Monday, saying, “Democrats need to do what President Trump has been asking them to do for 73 days in a row, and defund the Department of Homeland Security.” He called the matter a “national emergency.”
“Every member of Congress must put country above party and defund the Department of Homeland Security,” he said.
Saturday’s event has prompted calls from Republicans and Trump administration officials to defund DHS, including the Secret Service, one of the law enforcement agencies managing security for the event. Leavitt noted the need to prepare for events that will put additional pressure on the agency in the coming months, including the World Cup, the US 250, the 2028 Olympics and the presidential election.
The congressional standoff over DHS funding has reached its third month, amid resistance from Democrats who want to put more guardrails around immigration enforcement. DHS has been able to paper over some of the missed pay checks by repurposing the massive cash infusion the agency received as part of the GOP megalaw enacted last year, but even that has its limits — DHS Secretary Markway Mullin said this month that his department would run out of money to pay staff salaries in the first week of May.
President Donald Trump has called on Republicans to use the budget reconciliation process to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol by June 1, after which Congress is expected to enact bipartisan measures to fund remaining DHS operations and end the record-breaking shutdown.
Republican leadership is working to convince hold-outs to support a Senate budget plan to fund immigration enforcement, in part by promising another package filled with Republican priorities later. Some House Republicans believe the firings could prompt hesitant Republican lawmakers to temporarily abandon their frustrations and support the budget plan, especially amid growing White House warnings about the national security risks inherent in leaving the agency in a funding crisis.
Levitt praised federal law enforcement’s response to the Trump assassination attempt.
Law enforcement quickly captured the shooter before he reached the ballroom of the Washington Hilton, where Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, First Lady Melania Trump and other dignitaries, including members of the Cabinet, had gathered for dinner. And Secret Service officers immediately removed the President and other top administration officials from the venue.
“The Secret Service is a vital component of DHS. It has been directly impacted by this reckless political gamesmanship,” Leavitt said. “Everyone in this room Saturday night saw the heroes of the Secret Service and federal law enforcement leap into action in the face of grave danger and uncertainty.”
However, how the gunman was able to charge before law enforcement – ​​and his ability to bring weapons into the hotel – is under investigation as federal officials examine security protocols for future incidents.
