House Democrats Highlight How Republican Funding Bill Weakens Our National Security and Makes Americans More Vulnerable to Terrorism

WASHINGTON — During today’s House Appropriations Subcommittee markup of the 2026 Homeland Security funding bill, House Democrats highlighted how the bill raises costs for families recovering from natural disasters, weakens America’s national security, and fails to protect Americans from terrorism and violent extremists.

For 2026, the bill provides $99.1 billion for the Department of Homeland Security. The legislation:

• Fails to protect Americans from terrorism and violent extremists by underfunding programs that enhance Americans' ability to respond to, prepare for, and counter extremism.
• Weakens our national security through inadequate cybersecurity and infrastructure security investments, despite an increasing number of sophisticated attacks from foreign adversaries against U.S. businesses, schools, and state and local governments.
• Increases costs for state and local governments when communities are struck by natural disasters or extreme weather events.
• Abandons constitutional rights upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court to ensure due process and prevent further wrongful, unlawful removals.

From Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Lauren Underwood’s (D-IL-14) opening remarks:

“I think we can all agree that whether it is at the border, the airport, our country’s shorelines, or in cyberspace, the Department of Homeland Security cannot fail. But I also believe that the Department cannot fail the ideals and values that make America the greatest nation in the world. Under the Trump Administration, DHS is out of control: illegally spending hundreds of millions of OUR taxpayer dollars, and flagrantly violating the rights and civil liberties of Americans. Under this administration, due process and the limitations that the Constitution puts on our government are being ignored, and this bill does nothing to protect Americans from being targeted. Mr. Chairman, we make America stronger and more secure when we make investments in our communities stronger, and when we uphold our values. But this bill does neither, and I cannot support it.”

From Appropriations Committee Ranking Rosa DeLauro’s (D-CT-03) opening remarks:

“House Republicans are doubling-down on the Administration’s effort to throw the responsibility of disaster recovery and mitigation onto the states. In the face of worsening hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural disasters, they seek to reduce FEMA’s staffing, slash funding for climate resilience, and they ignore an $8 billion shortfall in the Disaster Relief Fund, even though they line up for aid when disaster strikes their own districts. Instead of focusing on ways to help lower the cost of living and help keep the American people safe from threats from our adversaries, extremists, and major disasters, House Republicans are using this bill to gut critical federal resources and advance their own agenda.”

A summary of House Republicans’ 2026 Homeland Security bill is here. A fact sheet of the bill is here. The full text of the bill is here. Information on Community Project Funding in the bill is here.

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