The safety of the American people should never be treated as a political bargaining chip, and what’s best for illegal immigrants should never be put before our national security. Yet for more than a month, Democrats have done exactly that — forcing Missourians to deal with the consequences. Since February 14, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has remained unfunded because “defund the police” Democrats in Congress insist on playing political games by demanding the Trump administration adopt policies aimed at making it easier for illegal immigrants to come to and stay in the United States. While ICE operations continue thanks to the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, Washington Democrats are refusing to fund the department responsible for protecting our country.

This week, Americans saw the potentially deadly consequences of failing to act. Active shooters at both the Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan and at Old Dominion University in Virginia raised concerns about ties to terrorism, and have reminded Americans the safety of our communities cannot be taken for granted. The reality is that threats both at home and abroad remain, and Americans have every right to be concerned about their safety and security.

The Department of Homeland Security was created by Congress in the wake of the September 11^th attacks, and it is Congress’ responsibility to ensure it is adequately funded if the United States hopes to prevent the next one. The agencies within DHS are critical to that mission. TSA ensures Americans are safe when they fly, and that our commercial aircraft cannot be used again as weapons of mass destruction; the Coast Guard ensures criminals and violent cartels cannot smuggle drugs and other contraband into our country. These functions are at risk of coming to a halt because Democrats are playing political games — and Americans are less safe and worse off because of it. These agencies have not been paid for one month now, and while many of these men and women have patriotically stayed on the job, we are nearing a crisis point.

Many DHS employees and their families who live paycheck to paycheck have been left wondering how they are going to make ends meet. They are struggling to keep food on the table and simply stay afloat. Airports are now encouraging travelers to consider donating gift cards to help these families because Democrats have chosen to weaponize their suffering to score political points and appease their radical base.

Washington Democrats are signaling that they want these problems to become worse, not better, as they seek to keep the agency shut down for a fifth straight week. The livelihoods of the American people are not a bargaining chip, and undermining our national security should be used as leverage. The attacks this week should be a wake up to Democrats that our national security cannot be taken for granted.