White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday urged lawmakers to fund the Department of Homeland Security after a gunman breached security at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner over the weekend.
The administration has repeatedly blamed Democrats in Congress for holding up DHS funding and again leveled that charge on Monday, saying “Democrats need to do what President Trump has been calling on them to do for 73 days in a row, and fund the Department of Homeland Security. She called the matter a “national emergency.”
“Every member of Congress needs to put their country over party, and get the Department of Homeland Security funded,” she added.
Saturday’s incident has fueled calls from Republicans and Trump administration officials to fund the DHS, which houses the Secret Service, one of the law enforcement agencies managing security for the event. Leavitt mentioned the need to prepare for events that will place additional strain on the agency in the months ahead, including the World Cup, America 250, the 2028 Olympics and the presidential election.
The congressional showdown over DHS funding amid resistance from Democrats that want more guardrails placed around immigration enforcement has dragged into its third month. DHS has been able to paper over some missed paychecks by repurposing some of the massive cash infusion the agency received as part of the GOP megalaw enacted last year, but even that has its limits — DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said this month that his department will run out of money to pay employees’ salaries the first week of May.
President Donald Trump has demanded Republicans use the budget reconciliation process to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol by June 1, after which Congress is expected to enact a bipartisan measure to fund remaining DHS operations and end the record-breaking shutdown.
Republican leadership is working to convince hold-outs to support a Senate budget plan to fund immigration enforcement, in part by promising another package filled with Republican priorities later on. Some House Republicans believe the shooting could push hesitant Republican lawmakers to temporarily abandon their frustrations and support the budget plan, especially amid increasing White House warnings about national security risks inherent in leaving the agency in a funding lurch.
Leavitt praised federal law enforcement’s response to Trump’s attempted assassination.
Law enforcement quickly took down the shooter before he made it into the ballroom of the Washington Hilton, where Trump, Vice President JD Vance, first lady Melania Trump and other dignitaries including members of the Cabinet were gathered for dinner. And Secret Service officers quickly removed the president and other top administration officials from the event space.
“The Secret Service is a vital component of DHS. It has been directly impacted by this reckless political gamesmanship,” Leavitt said. “Everyone in this room who was there on Saturday night witnessed the heroes of Secret Service and federal law enforcement jump into action in the face of grave danger and uncertainty.”
However, how the gunman was able to charge as far past law enforcement as he did — and his ability to bring weapons to the hotel — remains under scrutiny as federal officials examine security protocols for future events.
