House Majority Leader Steve Scalise is urging Democrats to stop what he calls political maneuvering over funding for the Department of Homeland Security, as the United States remains on heightened alert following military strikes on Iran. He argued that national security should take precedence, warning that shutting down the department during a period of global tension puts Americans at risk.

The partial government shutdown has stretched into its eighteenth day, with most federal agencies funded through the end of the fiscal year but no agreement reached on immigration enforcement policies tied to the Department of Homeland Security. House Republican leaders plan to bring back a bipartisan funding bill that previously passed the chamber, hoping increased security concerns will pressure Democrats to support it.

Scalise emphasized the department’s broad responsibilities, including counterterrorism, cybersecurity, border security, and protection for major international events hosted in the United States. He called on lawmakers from both parties to prioritize public safety and approve funding to reopen the department fully.