Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sharply criticized House Republicans on Thursday after they passed a Senate-backed bill to end the longest partial shutdown in the history of the Department of Homeland Security.
The House voted late Thursday to approve the measure, which restores funding for most DHS operations more than 70 days after the partial shutdown began in mid-February.
Pelosi responded quickly on social media, writing that Republicans had “kept DHS shut down for over 70 days” and “caved today after accomplishing nothing.”
In her April 30 post, Pelosi listed the key agencies affected: FEMA, TSA, the Coast Guard, and others.
Pelosi’s take
She accused Republicans of “playing games with your safety while making life harder and more expensive.” She ended with a strong warning message: “Enough is enough. You Deserve Better.”
The shutdown began when Congress failed to pass a full-year funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security. Lawmakers could not agree on how much funding to allocate to immigration enforcement agencies like ICE and Customs and Border Protection.
Also Read: Democrats Approve Bill to Fund DHS
Republicans pushed for stronger funding and policy changes at the border. Democrats resisted those additions.
For more than two months, many DHS workers reported for work without pay. TSA screeners at airports faced extra strain.
Coast Guard members continued missions without regular checks. FEMA staff handled disaster response with limited resources. The standoff dragged on longer than any previous partial agency shutdown.
Republicans argued they were fighting for better border security. They said Democrats blocked reasonable changes that would help control illegal immigration.
Democrats countered that Republicans were holding everyday security functions hostage to score political points on immigration.
On Thursday, the House finally accepted the Senate’s version of the bill. The measure funds TSA, FEMA, the Coast Guard, and other non-immigration parts of DHS.
It does not include the additional immigration-enforcement funding or policy shifts that House Republicans had demanded earlier.
Also Read: Nancy Pelosi Under Fire as Her Role in Eric Swalwell’s Positioning Is Exposed
Like many Democrats who claimed the outcome showed Republican weakness, Pelosi, calling it a “cave,” described the vote as a defeat for the GOP after weeks of tough talk on the border.
The bill now heads to President Trump for his signature. White House officials said Trump supports ending the shutdown but remains focused on border security.
The partial shutdown caused real problems, leaving many Americans cursing the political class. Travelers reported longer airport lines in some cities.
Coast Guard families worried about missed paychecks as emergency management teams operated with reduced staff during a busy storm season.
Both sides point fingers
This fight comes as Congress faces bigger budget deadlines later this year. Lawmakers must still pass full appropriations bills for the rest of the government by the end of September.
Pelosi’s X post drew instant fire from conservative corners, with users slamming her for what they called misleading claims. Others piled on, blasting Democrats for stonewalling border security bills.
“The Republicans did not shut down! Democrats did. They accomplished nothing, but more people will never vote for them again! They only want to destroy, defund, and dismantle the Country. The People want intelligent representation, like our Republic! Not violent, uncivilized,” one netizen reacted.
Meanwhile, the divide over how to enforce immigration laws remains unresolved. Both sides expect another round of tough negotiations when Congress takes up the next round of spending bills.
