Obama’s former DHS secretary calls to end shutdown, pointing to Iran threat

A former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary urged Congress on Thursday to reverse a shutdown at the department that has lasted for more than a month.

Jeh Johnson, who served in the Obama administration, called on legislators on both sides of the aisle to pass the necessary funding package to reopen the DHS during an appearance on “Fox & Friends.”

“The most basic function of Congress is to keep the lights on and fund the government,” he said. “We need to get out of the business of coupling policy disagreements in Congress with funding the government.”

Democrats are continuing to block the funding measure over concerns about the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations in states like Minnesota, California, Illinois and Maine. Party leaders are demanding several key reforms to DHS’s immigration enforcement agencies, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. 

Several other agencies under DHS are affected by the shutdown, including the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Johnson expressed particular concerns about the shutdown’s impact on air travel safety and transportation security officers during the U.S.’s ongoing military operations with Israel against Iran. 

“Let’s not forget that we are now in a heightened threat environment because of the war against Iran, so if there was ever a time that we would need to fund the Department of Homeland Security, it’s right now,” he said. 

Negotiations between the White House and Democratic leadership are at a standstill after the White House offered to make several reforms at the department but refused to meet Democrats’ central demands. 

Only one Democrat, Sen. John Fetterman (Pa.), has voted for the funding package. Fetterman has previously said he will never support shutting down the government.

On Thursday, President Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, met with centrist Democrats on the Hill to continue discussions on the funding package. 

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the vice chair on the Senate Appropriations Committee, told reporters after the meeting the two parties remain “a long ways apart” on these discussions. 

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

White House seeks to circumvent Schumer on potential DHS funding deal

GOP debate on SAVE America Act morphs into ‘circular firing squad’

Huckabee Sanders says she was asked to leave restaurant because employees felt ...

GOP Senate candidate on rising gas prices: ‘Maybe you take one less trip to ...

5 takeaways on Gabbard’s grilling in House worldwide threats hearing

Trump’s takeover of DC landmarks reaches legal apex

Judge dismisses Trump administration lawsuit over California egg prices

Costco CEO gives update on future of $1.50 hot dog and soda combo

US F-35 makes emergency landing after flying over Iran

The Memo: Trump fumes as foreign leaders show new willingness to defy him

House Democrat says there’s a ‘legitimate problem’ with US-NATO ...

Enabling this TSA feature could save you hours in airport security lines

6 governor races shift to Democrats: Election handicapper

Jim Jordan reverses long-held position on spy powers, says he will back Trump ...

Trump ribs Japanese prime minister on Pearl Harbor in Oval Office talk on Iran

GOP grapples with $200B Iran funding request from Trump, Hegseth

Selective Service rules: Who would be exempt in event of a draft?

Thune: Republicans will use SAVE Act in midterms if Democrats don’t get ‘on ...

© The Hill