Senators Struggle for Elusive DHS Deal as Airport Chaos Worsens

US senators on Thursday are pushing for a deal to end the disruptive shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security as key lawmakers from both parties negotiated immigration policy and President Donald Trump struck a hard line on the talks.

Worsening lines at airport security around the country and mounting concerns about the shutdown’s effects on the US economy added urgency to the talks, as did lawmaker plans to leave Washington for a two-week break.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune and other Republicans sent Democrats a revised proposal, which he called their “final offer.” It was unclear what would happen if Democrats rejected it, but Thune signaled he’s hopeful the two parties are closer to a deal. Thune also indicated to reporters it’s possible Republicans could agree to a tweak to the language if needed in order to end the impasse.

Democrats are reviewing Republicans’ proposal, said Senator Angus King, a Maine independent who typically votes with Democrats and has been involved in the talks. Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, didn’t respond to reporters’ questions about it.

Other Democrats were cautious, signaling that the GOP proposal didn’t address their concerns about Trump’s immigration crackdown following the killings of two US citizens by agents earlier this year.

“It’s not good enough for me,” said New Jersey Democratic Senator Andy Kim.

The negotiations were revolving around a plan to fund all of DHS except immigration enforcement activities and language to ensure the White House cannot find loopholes to use the funds in the bill for enforcement. The GOP hopes at least seven moderates Democrats go for the compromise even if party leaders vote against the bill for lack of ICE reforms.

Republicans earlier in the week offered to fund DHS minus immigration enforcement activities and any new ICE policy changes, but Democrats rejected that proposal.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune speaks to members of the media at the US Capitol in Washington on March 26.

Photographer: Aaron Schwartz/Bloomberg

Thune did not indicate whether Trump had signed off on the new deal, but he said the White House has “been involved in the back and forth that has occurred overnight, all morning this morning, so we’ll see.”

Senator Katie Britt of Alabama, a key Republican negotiator, could be seen talking with top Democrats as she shuttled between meetings with Thune and other GOP leaders.

Trump, however, continues to draw a hard line in the negotiations as he blames the disruption caused by the shutdown on Democrats.

“We’re not going to let the Democrats get away with this stuff and people are wise to them, so they need to end the shutdown immediately,” the president said during a cabinet meeting earlier Thursday.

Hours later, the White House posted a video on social media blaming Democrats for the stalemate.

Read More: Why ICE Is Paid During the Shutdown But TSA Is Not

Democrats have specifically demanded enhanced training for ICE officers, expanded use of body cameras, and the use of badges clearly identifying officers by name. They also want to bar officers from wearing masks in most situations and require judicial warrants to enter private homes.

ICE and border patrol agents have continued to be paid through the shutdown, thanks to extra money for those agencies in Trump’s tax and spending bill enacted in July. But others within the department, including Transportation Security Administration workers, have gone unpaid for weeks.

Democrats have repeatedly proposed funding TSA on its own, but Republicans have rejected the offer. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said there are “no preparations or plans” within the administration to fund TSA through executive action. The Washington Post, citing unnamed sources, said that the administration is weighing such action to pay TSA officers.

“The best and easiest way to pay TSA Agents is to fund DHS,” she said.

TSA officials warned on Wednesday that airport security is under severe strain with the highest wait times in the agency’s history as workers call out side or leave the job altogether. At hard-hit airports like those in Atlanta, Houston and New York, wait times have exceeded 4.5 hours at times.

--With assistance from Skylar Woodhouse and Alicia Diaz.

To contact the reporters on this story:
Erik Wasson in Washington at ewasson@bloomberg.net;
María Paula Mijares Torres in Washington at mmijarestorr@bloomberg.net;
Steven T. Dennis in Washington at sdennis17@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story:
Megan Scully at mscully32@bloomberg.net

Magan Crane, Romy Varghese

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