Rep. Casten Says DHS Stopgap Likely to Reach Floor, Lacks Senate Path

Summary

• Rep. Sean Casten states a stopgap funding bill for most of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will likely be sent to the House floor the night of the interview, but he plans to vote "no."
• He asserts that even if the bill passes the House, it lacks the 60 votes needed to pass the Senate, as it ignores the terms of a bipartisan agreement the Senate just reached.
• Casten argues the current funding impasse and potential shutdown is a deliberate political choice by Speaker Mike Johnson to avoid alienating the Freedom Caucus, not a necessity.
• He claims a clean bipartisan Senate bill that would have funded the entire government was available earlier the same day, but Johnson chose not to bring it forward.
• Casten emphasizes the funding issue is not abstract, citing that "ICE murdered Americans in the street" as a top constituent concern, and he seeks accountability in any funding package.
• He clarifies the President does have constitutional authority to reallocate a specific $10 billion "slush fund" from the BBB (presumably the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill) to pay agencies like TSA.
• However, he notes the President had this authority for months, implying the delayed use contributed to the pay issue for federal employees.
• The consequence of the House's path, according to Casten, is that TSA agents, FEMA, and the Coast Guard will go unfunded for the next 2-3 weeks during a congressional recess.