Homeland Security Funding Bill Fails to Secure the Border

Legislation squanders billions of dollars on useless, ineffective border and enforcement measures while disregarding the threats presented by terrorists, transnational criminals, foreign adversaries, and violent extremists.

WASHINGTON — House Appropriations Committee Republicans today released their draft 2025 Homeland Security funding bill, which will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow. The bill covers agencies, offices, and programs in the Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the United States Secret Service, the Transportation Security Administration, the Coast Guard, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

For 2025, the bill provides $93.8 billion for the Department of Homeland Security, of which $22.7 billion is for major disaster response and recovery. The legislation:

• Fails to secure the border by wasting billions of dollarson ineffective and disproven strategies instead of investing in sustainable immigration reform that both strengthens border security and benefits American families and businesses.
• Deliberately forces chaos at the border and in cities across the country by eliminating the Shelter and Services Program and withholding the resources and policies needed to manage our border humanely and support communities receiving migrants across the U.S.
• Fails to protect Americans from terrorism and violent extremists byunderfunding programs that enhance regional preparedness and response capabilities and counter extremism.
• Weakens our national security through inadequate cybersecurity and infrastructure security investments, exposing the U.S. to increased cyberattacks and foreign adversary influence.

"The American people expect Congress to advance serious solutions that keep our country safe, address the challenges at our southern border, and uphold American values. Instead, with this bill, House Republicans are doubling down on the chaos and dysfunction that has become the hallmark of their Majority," said Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14). "Republican extremists continue to block any chance for bipartisan immigration reform and border security legislation, and this bill makes matters worse by abandoning communities across the country, including mine in Illinois by gutting funding to the Shelter and Services Program and denying us critically needed resources. This bill misses important opportunities to combat urgent public health threats, like the flow of fentanyl through our ports of entry, and it focuses federal resources on wasteful and inhumane policies while underfunding essential cybersecurity and countering violent extremism programs. Although I cannot support this bill, I am committed to working with my colleagues to produce a bipartisan bill that invests in making our communities safer, protects our national security, and reflects our values as Americans."

"House Republicans do not want to secure our border. They want to create chaos to score political points. House Democrats want to invest in effective strategies, but at every opportunity, Republicans turn their backs on real solutions and put politics over solving the border crisis," Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) said. "House Republicans' disingenuous funding bill deliberately forces chaos at the border and in cities across the country by eliminating the Shelter and Services Program and withholding the resources and policies needed to manage our border and support communities receiving migrants across the United States. The extreme, partisan bill makes our communities less safe and more vulnerable to terrorism and violent extremists. Republicans are suggesting policies and cuts that weaken our national security and fail to make bold investments to adequately combat the flow of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs. We will not make progress if Republicans do not start seriously working with Democrats to strengthen border security and keep communities safe."

A summary of House Republicans' 2025 Homeland Security bill is here. A fact sheet of the bill is here. The full text of the bill is here. The subcommittee markup will be webcast live and linked on the House Committee on Appropriations website.

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