WASHINGTON D.C March 11, 2026 – In a pointed statement from the White House briefing room, Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany urged Americans affected by the partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to direct their frustrations at Democratic lawmakers. The shutdown, now in its 25th day, has led to widespread disruptions including long TSA lines at airports and delayed paychecks for over 100,000 federal workers.
During Tuesday’s press briefing, McEnany emphasized President Donald Trump’s desire to fully fund and reopen the DHS, highlighting the impact on essential services like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Coast Guard. “President Trump wants the Department of Homeland Security, he wants TSA, he wants FEMA, and he wants the brave men and women of our United States Coast Guard to receive their paychecks,” McEnany stated. She added that any American struggling without a paycheck or facing lengthy airport waits should “call your Democrat member of Congress and tell them to fund the Department of Homeland Security.”
The White House’s official X account echoed this sentiment, posting: “President Trump wants the Department of Homeland Security FULLY funded and reopened. To every American missing a paycheck or stuck in endless TSA lines — thank a Democrat.” The post included a clip of McEnany’s remarks and tagged the Press Secretary’s account.
The shutdown stems from a deadlock in Congress over funding for DHS, the last federal agency without appropriations for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, which ends September 30. It began on February 14 following failed negotiations on reforms to immigration enforcement, sparked by the January killing of U.S. citizen Alex Pretti by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Minneapolis. Democrats have demanded changes such as body cameras for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, stricter ID requirements, and warrant standards—measures they argue align with standard police practices nationwide.
Republicans, holding majorities in both chambers of Congress, have accused Democrats of playing “partisan games” that endanger national security. On March 5, the House passed H.R. 7744 to fully fund DHS, but Senate Democrats blocked it, citing the need for reforms. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem has condemned the shutdown as the third such incident in the 119th Congress, forcing emergency measures like suspending courtesy escorts at airports and limiting FEMA responses to non-disaster areas.
Democrats counter that they offered standalone funding for TSA and Coast Guard workers, but Republicans rejected it to leverage the broader DHS budget. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has stated that funding will not proceed without safeguards against what Democrats describe as overreach in immigration operations.
The impasse comes amid heightened tensions, including the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict and reports of intercepted Iranian communications activating “sleeper cells” in the West. Recent incidents, such as the discovery of explosives linked to an attempted bombing in New York City, have amplified calls to reopen DHS fully. A non-partisan report warns that the shutdown increases risks from such threats by 15-35% due to degraded operations.
Travelers have reported TSA wait times surging to three hours at major airports, with warnings of potential walkouts if the shutdown persists. Additionally, the funding lapse has raised questions about U.S. preparations for hosting World Cup games in Massachusetts.
As negotiations continue, both sides remain entrenched, with the White House insisting that Democrats bear responsibility for the disruptions. The shutdown affects over 260,000 DHS employees, many of whom must work without pay, echoing past funding crises but limited to this single department.
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