FEMA firefighters and firefighting equipment are among the programs endangered by Republican shutdown shenanigans.
Shut down the Department of Homeland Security or punt? Those look like the likeliest options as congressional Republicans refuse to advance a clean bill funding the DHS, with a February 27 deadline looming.
Republicans say they're committed to the shutdown path, to show their opposition to President Obama's executive action protecting some immigrants from deportation.
"Right now, for many members, this is about setting a precedent for how things operate for the next two years," another GOP aide said. Outside groups on the conservative pole said they agreed.
"I think there is going to be a lot of skepticism about moving a clean, short-term" funding resolution for DHS, said Dan Holler, communications director for Heritage Action for America. "There is always a promise there will be a fight on something and there is always an excuse to delay that fight. We are in the middle of it right now. ... To lose that momentum and punt for 30 days doesn’t seem like the right thing to do."
Right. It's about setting a precedent for how things operate for the next two years, and that precedent is to hold big chunks of the government hostage for policy concessions, up to and including shutting them down. For their part, Democrats worry that agreeing to a short-term bill would make Republicans more likely to stage a similar fight the next time a must-pass funding bill comes up, using the threat of shutdown to try to force through their policy wishlist. It's also
not clear that a short-term continuing resolution with another fight at the end of it would be much better than a shutdown. A host of needed upgrades, trainings, and grants wouldn't be possible:
Customs and Border Protection wouldn’t be able to upgrade its mobile video systems to patrol the Rio Grande Valley. The Federal Emergency Management Agency wouldn’t be able to write the grants that pay the salaries of state and local emergency management officials. It might also have to cancel a series of training workshops next month for first responders.
Additionally, shutting down takes preparation. A last-minute short-term funding bill would force the DHS to prepare now for a possible shutdown, then again just a couple weeks later in time for the next fight. So one way or another, Republican refusal to pass a clean funding bill and take their policy fights to a separate bill, or let the court process play out, is likely to damage FEMA, the Secret Service, the border protection Republicans claim to care so much about, and more. But at least, with a majority of Americans are
blaming Republicans for a shutdown, it'll also damage the people responsible.