1A The Fight Over Funding The DHS
Mar 3, 2026
Joshua Etterheimer, former DHS training chief and public safety professor, offers a training and hiring lens. Priscilla Alvarez, CNN immigration reporter, covers enforcement shifts and staffing strains. Eric Bazel-Emil, Politico national security reporter, explains DHS’s sprawling remit and cybersecurity and counterterrorism risks. They discuss funding fights, rapid hires, diverted resources, and national security pressures.
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Funding Fight Tied To Reform Demands And Security Fears
- Funding talks are stuck because Democrats demand policy reforms while Republicans and DHS leadership press urgency tied to national security.
- Eric Bazel-Emil says the Iran strikes intensified Republican pressure but Democrats want guardrails on tactics.
Counterterrorism Agents Pulled Into ICE Rotations
- Kayla Stath described being pulled from cyber and counterterrorism work to volunteer on ICE rotations.
- The shift removed specialized agents from their core counterterrorism roles to support immigration operations.
Concerns About Sleeper Cells And Border Vulnerabilities
- Officials worry about sleeper cells and whether past border vulnerabilities were exploited.
- Eric Bazel-Emil cites the Austin shooter details and the need for DHS and FBI to probe possible links amid uncertainty.