Rep. Peters Demands Congress Fund Essential DHS Services, Negotiate ICE and CBP Reforms

San Diego, CA – Today, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) hosted a press conference to discuss the harm that the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown has on federal workers, travelers, and community members who rely on DHS programs. The department has been shut down since February 13th and is now the longest partial government shutdown in our nation’s history. 

In March, Rep. Peters introduced the Homeland Security Continuity and Accountability Act. During shutdowns, the bill would authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to transfer funds previously allocated for immigration enforcement to other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that play a critical role in securing the nation. 

“I'm glad President Trump recently decided to pay TSA employees, using unspent funds from the ‘Big Beautiful Bill.’ I introduced a bill to do exactly that for every DHS agency except ICE and CBP – and we should codify his effort by passing my bill so the livelihoods of essential federal workers don't depend on the whims of any one person. We cannot allow hardworking employees at TSA, FEMA, the Coast Guard, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and other DHS agencies to be used as leverage during this shutdown. I look forward to voting on the bill the Senate passed – as is – while we continue to fight for badly needed reforms to ICE,” said Rep. Scott Peters (CA-50). 

“TSA officers are frontline professionals who show up every day to protect the safety of the traveling public, all while making difficult personal sacrifices of their own, and I am very grateful for their continued dedication and service. Maintaining stable staffing at security checkpoints is critical to keeping our airports running safely and efficiently and our TSA officers play an essential role in making that happen,” said San Diego County Board of Supervisors Vice Chair and San Diego Airport Authority Board Member, Monica Montgomery Steppe. 

“Today, as the government shutdown drags on, our union members and workers are enduring the brunt of the unknown. Families are struggling, livelihoods are stalling, and the economic ripple effects being felt more than ever. We call on our leaders to end this shutdown and ensure that working families do not pay the price for political stalemates and disagreements,” said Nyrine Washington, Director of Strategic Communications, AFGE TSA Local 1260, AFL-CIO. 

Legislation to fund every component of DHS except ICE and Border Patrol passed unanimously in the Senate, yet DHS remains shut down. House Republicans continue to refuse Democrats’ demands to hold Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol to the same standard as other law enforcement officers who ensure accountability and make communities safer. Rep. Peters will continue to push for good faith negotiations on our federal appropriations. 

A livestreamed recording of the event can be viewed here. 

Additional photos from the event, courtesy of the office of Rep. Scott Peters, can be viewed here. 

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