Capitol agenda: Trump muddies DHS talks

It’s crunch time for talks to reopen the Department of Homeland Security — and President Donald Trump is making things messier.

The House and Senate are scheduled to leave in a few days for a two-week recess. If they go home with no deal, the DHS funding lapse could end up lasting at least two months and break a new record for the longest shutdown of a federal agency. Now Trump is saying he doesn’t even want a deal if the Senate doesn’t pass the SAVE America Act.

Despite Trump’s warning, the threat of a two-month shutdown is spurring an uptick in what had been completely stalled negotiations. Starting Monday, the Trump administration plans to detail ICE agents to airports to do jobs like guarding exits so TSA agents can focus on screening passengers and baggage.

A bipartisan group of senators is aiming to meet Monday with border czar Tom Homan to continue talks, after the White House laid out an expanded offer Friday that included changes to DHS immigration enforcement tactics.

“We’ll see if they can land something,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said in an interview Sunday.

But Trump made a deal somewhat more complicated Sunday night.

When asked by NewsNation about whether Congress should just fund TSA while negotiating the rest of DHS, he said “I don’t think any deal should be made on this until they approve SAVE America.” He then said on Truth Social, “I don’t think we should make any deal with the Crazy, Country Destroying, Radical Left Democrats unless, and until, they Vote with Republicans to pass ‘THE SAVE AMERICA ACT.’”

What does it mean? Trump’s missive reflects where some Republicans already believed he was privately — in no mood to accept a DHS deal unless the elections bill is also passed. But negotiators and members of leadership are still hoping there can be a deal.

Trump is also opposed to breaking up DHS funding, including a plan proposed by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Kennedy (R-La.) and other conservatives to fund most of DHS now through a bipartisan deal and then let Republicans separately fund ICE and CBP through budget reconciliation, two people granted anonymity to disclose private discussions told Blue Light News. Thune on Sunday didn’t close the door to the idea and noted it was one of several under discussion, though he’s urging Democrats to fund all of DHS.

Despite the movement in negotiations, it’s still looking likely that the DHS shutdown will be record-breaking. While the Senate is considering staying in session if the shutdown isn’t resolved, House GOP leaders do not plan to cut their break short, according to three people granted anonymity to discuss private planning. The House will likely vote again on DHS funding on Thursday.

Also for your radar: Senate Democrats will force at least one Iran war powers vote this week and House Democrats are hoping to do the same. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) told reporters this weekend that it’s time for Congress to consider a formal authorization for use of military force and that she’s been working with Republicans on what an AUMF might look like.

What else we’re watching: The Senate returns at 3 p.m. to finish debate on Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s (R-Okla.) nomination to be DHS secretary. Mullin is expected to be confirmed as soon as Monday night after Democratic Sens. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico joined most Republicans Sunday to advance him.

Jennifer Scholtes, Jordain Carney, Katherine Tully-McManus and Meredith Lee Hill contributed to this report.