GOP setting up showdown date for Homeland Security funding

Attempting to overturn the president’s executive actions on immigration, congressional Republicans have set up a showdown over funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

But Democrats say that any disruption in the budget could seriously hamper the agency’s ability to protect the U.S.

Last week Republicans filed a $39.7 billion bill that would fund DHS through September. But GOP lawmakers are expected to attach amendments on the bill that would prevent funds from being used for implementing the president’s executive order on immigration. Democrats say full funding is needed to carry out the agency’s mission.

“In light of the tragic events in Paris last week, we are reminded that vigilance in the face of terrorism is critical, and our government needs the proper resources to detect, deter and respond to these acts,” said Rep. Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi, the top Democrat on the House Committee on Homeland Security.

The GOP threatening to “muck around” with critical DHS funding “right now seems like a particularly bad time for them to do so,” White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a briefing Monday.

“We’ve made clear, dating back to last fall, that the president would oppose any legislative effort to undermine the executive actions that he took to add greater accountability to our immigration system,” Mr. Earnest said.

However, Speaker of the House John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican, maintained his party wasn’t going to buckle.

“The bill is expected to include amendments to stop the president’s unilateral actions on immigration,” said Mr. Boehner in a statement Monday, regarding DHS funding. “The president’s unilateral actions were an affront to the rule of law and our system of government. I said we’d fight it tooth and nail when we had new majorities in the House and Senate, and I meant it.”