Senate Funds Most of DHS, Including Pay for TSA

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Luke Vargas (0:18)

The Senate funds most of DHS, putting an end in sight to the chaos at airports. Plus, the Pentagon weighs sending 10,000 ground troops to the Middle East, and struggling spirits makers gamble they could be stronger together.

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Luke Vargas (0:43)

It's Friday, March 27th. I'm Luke Vargas for The Wall Street Journal, and here is the AM Edition of What's News, the top headlines and business stories moving your world. Today, Senate Republicans and Democrats have agreed to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security, a step that could quickly tee up and end to the crisis at airports on the very day that airport security workers had been set to miss another paycheck. Congressional reporter Siobhan Hughes is working the late shift on Capitol Hill.

Siobhan Hughes (1:14)

Siobhan, sounds like we've got a deal here coming in just after 2 a.m. We have a deal, and in fact, the Senate has just passed legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security, or at least most of it, which is on course to end this standoff. The expectation is the House picks this up in the next few hours before President Trump signs the measure into law.

Luke Vargas (1:35)

Siobhan, I know Democrats had wanted to use this funding holdup to secure reforms to immigration operations, making sure that officers wore body cameras, as well as identification, that they took off their masks. They also wanted agents to need judicial warrants before entering homes. Did they get any of that? And I know you said there that elements of DHS aren't being funded here. Which ones?

Siobhan Hughes (1:56)

So what is left out is funding for ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and then Border Patrol, a separate function also within the Department of Homeland Security. The Republicans said they are going to try to fund those two units separately through a special procedural tactic called budget reconciliation, where they only need a simple majority of the Senate to clear that. And as for reforms, Democrats did not win any changes to the ways the Trump administration practices immigration enforcement. And the Senate Majority Leader John Thune told us that ship has sailed. And according to him, Democrats can kiss that opportunity goodbye.

Luke Vargas (2:35)

How is that going over with Democratic leaders and the rank and file?

Siobhan Hughes (2:38)

Democrats, particularly the progressive wing, I think, would see this as a win because Democrats are in the minority in Congress. They have no power to do anything. And basically, what they have succeeded in doing is taking a chunk out of the immigration enforcement budget. And for a party that has really been on its back heel, this counts as an accomplishment of sorts. Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, in the meantime said that he was proud that his caucus had stuck together and resisted funding for immigration agencies without significant reforms. And for his part, he said he thought Democrats would have some opportunities for such victories ahead.

Luke Vargas (3:16)

Like what Siobhan? Is that likely?

Siobhan Hughes (3:18)

For now, that truly appears to be dead in the water. It does not appear that Democrats have any avenues to win reforms. And to really put a pin in that, Congress is about to go on recess for two weeks.

Luke Vargas (3:30)

Siobhan, thanks so much for the update. Get some rest.

Siobhan Hughes (3:32)

Thank you.

Luke Vargas (3:36)

The Pentagon is considering sending up to 10,000 more ground troops to the Middle East as President Trump weighs his next steps in the Iran War. We report that it's unclear exactly where the troops would go, but that they'd likely be within striking distance of Iran and Karg Island, its crucial oil export hub. Iran's UN. Ambassador in Geneva, Ali Bahraini, said his country was prepared for any next moves from the US.

SPEAKER_6 (4:01)

We are ready for any scenario including any kind of ground operation. I think that is a place that we will be able to defeat them. And I think that would be one of the big mistakes if they take that decision.

Luke Vargas (4:27)

A spokesman for US. Central Command declined to comment while a White House press secretary said that troop deployment announcements would come from the Pentagon and that President Trump always had all military options at his disposal. Meanwhile, Journal of Politics reporter Sabrina Rodriguez says some misgivings about the war in Iran were on display yesterday as the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, kicked off its annual gathering in Texas.