September 20, 2023

MEMO: A Shutdown Rendered By Republicans Will Make Our Homeland Less Secure

TO: Interested Parties

FROM: Rep. Lou Correa (CA-46), Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement

DATE: September 20, 2023

RE: A Shutdown Rendered By Republicans Will Make Our Homeland Less Secure

This week, a deal was struck by the majority party and the Freedom Caucus, spawning their reintroduction of a version of a flawed border security bill as part of their effort to increase the likelihood of a government shutdown. Not only is this ‘deal’ unserious, it’s a political non-starter. They’ve added divisive legislation to this equation that will hurt immigrant communities and hamper our nation’s economic prosperity, and it will do nothing to stave-off a government shutdown. It will only make one more likely.

We should be honest with the American people: this impending government shutdown is a manufactured crisis caused by infighting within the Republican Conference. As the majority party’s proposed spending cuts make clear, they don’t believe in funding a government that supports its citizens—and leaving our nation’s national and homeland security behind in pursuit of short-term partisan goals. 

A Shutdown Would Make Our Homeland Less Secure

A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE: This isn’t the first time that we’ve had a shutdown with repercussions that reach the farthest ends of our country. During the 2018-2019 government shutdown under the Trump Administration, the Department of Homeland Security was forced to operate with a hand tie behind its back. Those 35 days—the longest shutdown in U.S. history—demonstrated how deeply a lack of funding can affect the Department.

During this period, 13% of the Department was not able to go into work, with more being forced to work without pay, affecting every operation from immigrant detention to high-level council meetings. The mission of the Department—the protection of our families and communities—suffered when it was starved of funds by Congress. The Department of Homeland Security was forced to:

  • Send 13% of its workforce home without pay
  • Continue running the Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans with only six employees out of the 154 it had
  • Place the majority of the employees in the department’s watchdog office on furlough
  • Limit the activity of the staff in the DHS Inspector General’s office
  • Run the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties with barley over 2% of its full staff
  • Halt review of detention conditions in Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities
  • Cease convening its Homeland Security Advisory Council

This self-inflicted shutdown crisis would have implications far beyond the halls of Congress, actively making our homeland less secure with each moment that the majority party is unable to agree on a funding plan that brings the Senate and White House to the table.

Slashing Funding To Programs That Keep Americans Safe 

THE MAJORITY’S PROPOSED CUTS WOULD HURT DHS: A government shutdown would leave the Department sorely unprepared to continue to protect us against foreign and domestic threats—however, the Continuing Resolution that the majority party has introduced does no better. It is only the latest in misguided policy that does not translate into actual, tangible protections for our nation.

The context is clear—Republicans’ past proposals make clear that this CR is only a warning of budget cuts to come. A March 2023 budget proposal by House Republicans demonstrates that fully funding the department is not a priority; the proposal would cap FY24 discretionary spending at FY22 levels, slashing the department budget for programs that actively keep Americans safe at home.

The Department communicated to the House Appropriations Committee what critical services would be impacted by this type of budget reduction. The cuts demonstrate my colleagues’ appropriations priorities, and include impacts like:

  • Reducing the staffing levels of Customs and Border Patrol frontline law enforcement by up to 2,400 agents and officers
  • Decreasing TSA staffing at airports, increasing security checkpoint wait times by up to around 2 hours
  • A 54% reduction in CBP’s Office of Air and Marine Operations’ operational capabilities, equivalent to:
    • 154,657 lbs. of cocaine not seized
    • 859 lbs. of fentanyl not seized
    • 561 criminals not arrested, and 57,594 apprehensions not made
    • 361 people not rescued

While the Continuing Resolution does not go to these extreme measures immediately, it would implement 8% cuts that would be harmful if extended throughout an entire year. A continuing resolution is a non-starter if it does not bring everybody to the table, regardless of party. It’s also a one-way ticket towards an untenable, irresponsible homeland security policy.

Shutdowns and Stopgaps Don’t Keep America Safe

REMEMBER: The majority party has made clear that these cuts are designed to force longer-term cuts. What would the proposed 8% cuts mean for the American people if they were extended for the entire year? It would mean: 

  • 800 fewer Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and officers
  • 50,000 pounds of cocaine, more than 300 pounds of fentanyl, more than 700 pounds of heroin, and more than 6,000 pounds of methamphetamine let into our country due to cuts to CBP
  • Nearly 70 fewer Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents, who are often some of the first federal law enforcement on the scene of a mass shooting to help local law enforcement identify at-large shooters—and 13 furlough days for ATF’s entire workforce
  • 145 fewer members of local law enforcement due to cuts at the Department of Justice
  • 4,000 fewer FBI personnel, including agents who investigate crimes

If a clean CR is not adopted, the government will fall into a manufactured shutdown as a result of the majority party’s infighting. This will be counterproductive to our security goals, as federal departments will be forced to work with limited budgets and restricted ability. Our security requires consistent commitment to bipartisan work that does not hold the American people hostage.

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