DHS Leader Warns Budget Shutdown a Threat to National Security

Senator Predicts Attack by 'Ghoulish, Grim Predators'

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief Jeh Johnson is predicting a national security calamity by the end of the month if Congress doesn’t push through funding for the DHS, claiming 30,000 workers will be furloughed.

The budget is being held up over a debate on immigration, and Johnson insists that these “challenging times” mean such debates should not take place at the expense of bankrolling huge government agencies.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D – MD) is predicting attacks by “ghoulish, grim predators” if the DHS doesn’t get its funding by month’s end, and also predicted ports along the eastern seaboard could be shut down.

Despite those claims, the lack of funding would not impact most Americans, and the Coast Guard is the one who handles the ports, so they’re not going anywhere. The only real impact would be some of the DHS employees not getting paid until the situation is resolved.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.