Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen found himself on the defensive Sunday as ABCs This Week host Jonathan Karl dismantled his attempt to deny that Democrats are effectively defunding the Department of Homeland Security while Immigration and Customs Enforcement remains fully financed.
The tense exchange unfolded as the partial government shutdown, now stretching beyond 40 days, continues to disrupt critical security operations and air travel nationwide, according to Gateway Pundit. Karl pressed Van Hollen on why Democrats are blocking funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)which includes the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Coast Guardwhile ICE already has its budget locked in at roughly $75 billion under last years omnibus spending package, the so?called One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Karl framed the core contradiction plainly, noting that Democrats have targeted DHS appropriations in an effort to force changes at ICE, even though ICEs funding is not actually at stake in the current standoff. I guess whats confusing here is you have fought and blocked the funding for the Department of Homeland Security because you object, as you just outlined, to what ICE has been doing, and you wanted to force changes, Karl said, pointing out that the only thing that has been assured throughout all of this is that ICE already has the money because, as you said, $75 billion passed in the budget bill last year.
So, youre holding up the entirety of the Department of Homeland Security because you object to ICE and you want changes to ICE, Karl continued, underscoring the practical effect of the Democratic strategy. But through it all, ICE continues to have the money it needs, he added, making clear that the shutdown pain is being felt by TSA agents, FEMA staff, and Coast Guard personnelnot by the immigration enforcement agency Democrats claim to be targeting.
The shutdown has already produced widespread delays and confusion at airports across the country, as unpaid TSA officers call in sick or struggle to cover basic expenses. In response, President Donald Trump has deployed ICE personnel to bolster airport security and signed an executive order to ensure TSA agents receive pay, steps that highlight the administrations attempt to keep essential services functioning while Democrats use DHS funding as leverage.
Pressed by Karl on this point, Van Hollen tried to reframe the situation and accused the host of mischaracterizing Democratic actions. John, were not holding up all of the money for all the Department of Homeland Security. Thats just a false statement, the Maryland Democrat insisted, attempting to distance his party from the real?world consequences of its own legislative blockade.
Van Hollen then claimed Democrats have consistently supported funding for frontline security and emergency agencies, even as they refuse to move DHS appropriations without concessions on ICE. We have said repeatedly, repeatedly, we should fund TSA, we should fund FEMA, we should fund the Coast Guard, he said, before acknowledging that Democrats are, in fact, conditioning that funding on changes to immigration enforcement.
The senator made clear that his caucus is using the broader DHS budget as a bargaining chip to force policy concessions on ICE, which has become a favorite target of the partys progressive wing. We are not prepared to give ICE another $10 billion on top of the monies they already have and are using in many of these lawless operations, Van Hollen declared, echoing left?wing rhetoric that paints routine enforcement of immigration law as inherently illegitimate.
Were not going to give them another $10 billion unless they make fundamental reform, including holding people accountable for the killing of American citizens, he added, invoking serious allegations without acknowledging that ICEs base funding is already secure and unaffected by the current impasse. Karl immediately seized on the contradiction, pointing out that Democrats refusal to approve the additional $10 billion is precisely what is blocking the rest of DHS funding.
And fighting over that additional $10 billion, you are holding up the rest of Department Homeland Security, Karl replied, cutting through Van Hollens talking points and returning to the practical reality that TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard are being used as hostages in a political fight over ICE. The challenge appeared to rattle Van Hollen, who grew visibly agitated as he tried to deny what was, by then, obvious to viewers.
Were not holding it up! he protested, throwing his arms in the air as Karl attempted to continue his line of questioning. No, John, were not holding it up. We have now voted 10 times Van Hollen began, only to be interrupted again as Karl refused to let the senator obscure the basic facts.
Right, but youre holding it up unless it doesnt include money for ICE. Thats just a fact, Karl concluded, succinctly summarizing the Democratic position. The exchange laid bare a central irony of the shutdown: in the name of opposing ICE, Democrats have ensured that ICE remains funded while the agencies that protect travelers, respond to disasters, and patrol Americas coasts are the ones left in limbo.
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