Chairman Thompson Statement on Trump’s Budget Request for the Department of Homeland Security
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s FY 2021 Budget Request for the Department of Homeland Security:
“The Trump Administration’s budget proposal for the Department of Homeland Security prioritizes the President’s draconian immigration campaign promises at the expense of our country’s core homeland security operations.
“It seeks to unjustifiably decrease funding for FEMA, TSA, CISA and the Coast Guard to increase funding for immigration enforcement operations and detention capacity to detain thousands more children and adults and for the President’s border wall.
“At a time where the threat of domestic terrorist attacks is heightened and our election systems are still being targeted by Russia, the significant cuts to funding for counterterrorism and disaster preparedness grants and vital cyber and infrastructure protection programs—including a program to protect chemical facilities from terrorism—are dangerous. I am particularly troubled that this budget would significantly scale back assistance to first responders who, nearly 20 years after the 9/11 attacks, still look to DHS to be a full partner.
“Another dangerous aspect of the budget is how it seeks to sever the bonds between the U.S. Secret Service and the rest of DHS by irresponsibly transferring it to another Federal department.
“This is clearly an election year budget with plenty of red meat for the President’s base at the expense of homeland security.”
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