Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla., on Monday accused Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., of blocking a Department of Homeland Security funding deal and engaging in "performative politics" while frontline agencies go unpaid.
During a recent interview on CNN, Schumer addressed Republicans, telling the majority party to "just go along" with what he called "common-sense proposals" from the Democrats to "rein in" President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement agenda.
Appearing on Newsmax's "Wake Up America," Haridopolos said Schumer's resistance to compromise is prolonging a shutdown that impacts critical national security operations.
"It doesn't look like right now it's going to happen," he said of a deal to end the DHS shutdown which began at midnight on Saturday. "It's a shame because, again, DHS is fundamental."
Haridopolos underscored that essential personnel are being caught in the middle of partisan drama on Capitol Hill.
"Coast Guard, FEMA, TSA agents are to be unpaid despite doing good work," he said.
Haridopolos stressed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement funding – the Democrats' main target – is not in question.
"The ICE program has already been funded through 2028," he said.
The blame for the DHS shutdown, Haridopolos suggested, should be laid at the feet of Schumer and Senate Democrats.
"This is, as usual, politics from the Democrats, much like when they shut the government down for over 40 days over healthcare," he said. "They're playing politics as they have nothing else to run on."
Drawing a sharp contrast, Haridopolos said, "We're about performance; they're about politics or theater."
Republicans support practical reforms for ICE, he said, including transparency and training for agents operating in high-risk environments.
"Remember, we're in sync with the idea of let's make sure they have body cameras," Haridopolos said. "I think ICE agents should show the challenges they face every day in places like Minneapolis, who do not want to play by the rules, who do not want to allow local law enforcement to help them out.
"Let's also give them more training because they're dealing with people who are unhinged," the congressman added.
At the same time, Haridopolos made clear there are limits to how far Republicans will bend to Democrat demands.
"But I'm not going to allow these agents to be doxed," he said, referring to the act of publicly revealing someone's personal information, such as their name, address, or contact details, without their consent.
"These people are just following the federal law that Democrats and Republicans passed, and they have a wife and kids or a husband back at home," Haridopolos said. "They deserve to be protected and not doxed."
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Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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