Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg acknowledged Sunday that immigration enforcement agencies already receive massive funding, undercutting claims that the Department of Homeland Security standoff is purely about money.
The admission surfaced during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” as Senate Democrats continue blocking a House‑passed bill that would fund the entire Department of Homeland Security.
Host Jake Tapper pressed Buttigieg on whether Democrats should accept what he described as a partial win and move to reopen the agency.
“Don’t you think Democrats should take what’s something of a win and start funding DHS again?” Tapper asked.
Democrat Pete Buttigieg admits Democrats are the ones shutting down DHS knowing ICE is already funded.
BUTTIGIEG: "ICE has already gotten…funding." pic.twitter.com/EVFsBEOzwA
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 15, 2026
Buttigieg shot back that Democrats are willing to fund most parts of the department while negotiating over immigration enforcement agencies.
“I think Republicans should stop blocking the Democratic proposals to fund all of DHS including TSA and other parts, except for the parts that should be negotiated over which is ICE and Customs and Border Patrol,” Buttigieg said.
He then acknowledged that the immigration agency at the center of the dispute already operates with enormous funding levels.
“Remember ICE has already gotten tens of billions of dollars of funding — it’s larger than many of the world’s militaries,” Buttigieg added.
The remarks came as Senate Democrats again blocked a motion to advance the House funding bill. The latest vote failed 51‑46. The measure needed 60 votes to proceed.
Democrats argue the bill should not advance because it includes funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection without changes to enforcement practices.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats want immigration agents to operate more like police departments.
“We all know that we do not have agreement on how to deal with ICE,” Schumer stated before the vote.
“Democrats just want ICE to behave like any police department in America and use warrants and not wear masks.”
Schumer also accused Republicans of blocking Democratic attempts to fund other parts of the department.
“Who’s standing in the way? America, look at it,” Schumer told the Senate.“We’re not putting any preconditions on funding TSA; the Republicans are.”
Republicans counter that Democrats created the crisis by refusing to fund core immigration enforcement agencies.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said GOP negotiators offered several compromises designed to reopen the entire department.
“There have been offers made repeatedly,” Thune stated on the Senate floor.
The South Dakota Republican urged lawmakers to fund not only the Transportation Security Administration but also agencies such as FEMA and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Democrats attempted another strategy to bypass the standoff. They introduced funding bills for individual agencies operating under the DHS umbrella, including TSA, FEMA and the Coast Guard. Republicans blocked those measures.
GOP leaders argued the approach would freeze immigration enforcement agencies by separating them from the rest of the department’s funding.
The political fight intensified after a series of violent incidents across the United States.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Sunday that the security dispute is unfolding while the nation faces growing threats.
Duffy raised the issue during an appearance on “Sunday Morning Futures” with Maria Bartiromo.
He pointed to a recent attack on a synagogue in Michigan while criticizing Democratic resistance to DHS funding.
Are Democrats waiting for Americans to get hurt or killed before they make YOUR security a top priority?@SenatorSlotkin voted EVERY TIME against funding @DHS. And now that an attacker tried to kill Jews at a synagogue in her home state of Michigan, she’s ready to fund Homeland… pic.twitter.com/YyDhOlydAO
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) March 15, 2026
“Look at Senator Slotkin from Michigan, where there was a synagogue attack,” Duffy said.
“She voted every time against funding DHS, and once the threat to her community was real, from radicals, now she says let’s open up DHS.”
Duffy then posed a blunt question about the political standoff. “I think that begs the question, are Democrats to get hurt, to get killed before they actually put your security before those who have come to this country unlawfully and illegally?” he asked.
“I hope that’s not their position, but we can get to a better place if they would just come to their senses and negotiate after they open it up.”
Authorities said the Michigan incident involved a violent attack on Temple Israel in West Bloomfield.
Investigators identified the suspect as 41‑year‑old Ayman Mohamad Ghazali.
Police said Ghazali rammed his vehicle into the synagogue and opened fire on security guards with a rifle. Armed security returned fire and killed him at the scene.
Israeli intelligence later revealed that Ghazali’s brother had been a Hezbollah commander.
“Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Muhammad Ghazali was responsible for managing weapons operations within a specialized branch of the Badr Unit,” the Israel Defense Forces posted on X.
“The unit is responsible for launching hundreds of rockets toward Israeli civilians throughout the war,” the statement continued.
“His brother, Ayman Muhammad Ghazali, carried out the terror attack in Michigan this past Thursday.”
Michigan Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin called for DHS funding after the attack. Slotkin had previously voted with Democrats to block the House funding bill.
Michigan Sen. Slotkin Calls To Fund DHS Following Her Vote To Keep Agency Shutdown pic.twitter.com/QnIie3muxT
— Tampa Free Press (@tampafreepress) March 13, 2026
Violence also struck Virginia in another high‑profile case. Authorities said 36‑year‑old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh opened fire inside Old Dominion University.
Investigators say the former Army National Guard soldier shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the attack.
The shooting killed ROTC instructor Lt. Col. Brandon Shah and wounded two others. Jalloh had previously been convicted of supporting ISIS.
Despite the incident, Virginia Democratic senators continued voting with Schumer to block the GOP funding bill.
Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine both opposed Republican efforts to reopen DHS.
Kaine defended the Democratic strategy in a statement. “Senate Democrats have repeatedly moved to fund — and Senate Republicans have repeatedly blocked — TSA, CISA, the Coast Guard and other entities within DHS that help keep us safe,” Kaine stated.
Warner blamed FBI leadership for failing to track the suspect involved in the Virginia attack.
“Following Director Patel’s mass firings of experienced FBI agents and counterterrorism experts, this tragedy emphasizes serious concerns about whether his leadership has left Americans more vulnerable to threats,” Warner stated.
Other violent incidents have intensified the national security debate. Police in Austin, Texas, said 53‑year‑old Ndiaga Diagne opened fire outside a bar.
Authorities reported that Diagne killed three people. Investigators said the suspect wore a shirt that read “property of Allah.”
New York City authorities also arrested two suspects accused of throwing improvised explosive devices near Gracie Mansion during a protest.
One suspect allegedly told investigators he was inspired by ISIS.
