Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso on Wednesday sharply criticized Democrats over the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, accusing them of prolonging disruptions to airport security and federal operations while prioritizing immigration policy demands.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Barrasso said Republicans have repeatedly brought forward proposals to reopen DHS, only to see Democrats reject or revise terms during negotiations. “Republicans have continually come to the Floor to vote to open the Department of Homeland Security,” Barrasso said. “And yet today… the Senate Minority Leader said… that is just ‘poppycock.’”
The Wyoming Republican argued that Democrats have “continued to move the goalposts” throughout the standoff, which has now stretched for weeks and left tens of thousands of DHS employees—including Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers—working without pay.
“This has gotten so bad,” Barrasso said, citing reports of federal workers facing financial strain. “There are members of the Department of Homeland Security who are not getting paid… and who are now… giving [plasma] to get paid.” He added, “Blood is on their hands.”
The shutdown has disrupted airport operations nationwide, with TSA staffing shortages contributing to long security lines and delays. Lawmakers in both parties have acknowledged mounting pressure from travelers and federal workers as the impasse continues.
Barrasso also pointed to local efforts to support unpaid workers, including a fundraising drive in his home state of Wyoming to provide supplies and gift cards to TSA personnel. “These people have been working without pay,” he said, describing community efforts to assist affected employees.
At the center of the dispute is a broader disagreement over immigration enforcement and funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Democrats have insisted that any DHS funding package include additional restrictions on ICE practices, while Republicans have pushed for reopening the agency while negotiating policy changes separately.
Barrasso escalated his criticism by referencing a resurfaced comment from Chris Murphy, a Democrat, who said in a 2024 interview that “the people we care about most” included undocumented immigrants. Republicans have seized on the remark amid the current funding fight, arguing it reflects Democratic priorities.
“Well, there is now circulating… a Democrat member of the Senate on television telling the nation… ‘the people we care most about… are the undocumented,’” Barrasso said. “Not these people who are working every day.”
The comment, originally made during a discussion about immigration policy negotiations, has drawn renewed attention as conservatives argue it underscores why Democrats have held firm in the DHS funding standoff.
Democrats, however, have rejected that characterization, saying their position is focused on ensuring accountability and reforms within federal immigration enforcement. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats are seeking a “reasonable, good faith proposal” that includes changes they have advocated for “since these negotiations began.”
The latest Senate vote on a Republican-backed DHS funding measure failed to advance, falling short of the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster. Democrats opposed the proposal, arguing it did not go far enough in addressing ICE-related concerns, while Republicans said it would have immediately restored pay for TSA and other DHS personnel.
The White House has also weighed in, criticizing Democrats for blocking funding while continuing to demand policy concessions. A senior administration official described the Democratic position as “not interested in a serious conversation” and warned the shutdown is “hurting Americans.”
With Congress nearing a scheduled recess and negotiations still at an impasse, there is no clear timeline for reopening DHS. Both parties say talks are ongoing, but remain divided over whether funding should proceed independently of immigration policy changes.
For now, the shutdown continues to ripple across federal operations, with TSA staffing shortages and airport delays serving as the most visible signs of a broader political deadlock in Washington.