THE DAILY CALLER NEWS FOUNDATION—White House border czar Tom Homan told CNN on Sunday he thinks Democrats’ apparent decision to prolong the partial government shutdown is not due to differences in immigration policy but instead “execution.” Homan appeared on “State of the Union with Jake Tapper and Dana Bash” on the 37th day of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) partial shutdown. The interview also aired two days after a poorly attended Senate chamber failed to fully reopen the department, with every voting Democrat except Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman opting to continue the standoff. Host Dana Bash asked the border czar what immigration enforcement policy changes President Donald Trump’s administration is offering Democrats “to end this impasse,” prompting Homan to reply he thinks the real disagreement is not about policy. “I truly believe this isn’t really a policy issue. We have the same policies in place we had during [former President Barack] Obama and [former President Joe] Biden and [former President Bill] Clinton and [former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush],” Homan told Bash. Prior to joining the first Trump administration, the border czar held a leadership role in the Obama administration’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). “So, the policy really hasn’t changed. It’s the execution of those policies that we’re talking about,” Homan continued. “It’s really about policy execution more than policy,” he added. The Obama’s administration previously removed more noncitizens from the U.S. than any other presidential administration, according to DHS data. This fact notably prompted many pro-immigration activists on the left to nickname the Democrat president the “Deporter in Chief” during his White House tenure. Trump deported about 675,000 illegal immigrants during the first year of his second term, according to a Jan. 20, 2026, DHS press release. During his entire first term, however, he removed about 1.2 million non-citizens. Even when these two totals are combined, they fall well short of the nearly 3 million deportations of the two-term Obama administration, multiple analyses of DHS data indicate. Furthermore, when removals and returns are combined, the president who expelled the most people out of the U.S. is another Democrat, Bill Clinton, according to DHS data analyzed by El Paso Matters. Homan added the Trump administration is “having good conversations” with Democrats “but more conversations need to be had, because we certainly can’t surrender ICE’s authorities and their congressionally mandated job.” During the Sunday interview, Bash also pressed Homan on whether the White House is “open to changing” immigration enforcement policy to acquiesce to some Democratic demands, such as requiring ICE agents to remove their masks. “As you see on the letter that was out the other night, we’re talking about identification, badge number, name, either/or because no Border Patrol has the name on their uniform. ICE does have a name on uniforms,” the border czar answered. “We’re talking about clear identification. We’re talking about access to detention and things like that. So, a lot of these things—as I explained to the senators—a lot of these things are already in play. And identification has been ever since Minneapolis.” “And I’m trying to explain the situation on the ground isn’t the same as it was in Minneapolis. We’re doing targeted enforcement operations, and the detention standards are the same. They were in the last administration, but there was a problem with access to detention standards,” Homan continued. “That problem doesn’t exist anymore. So, a lot of the changes after Minneapolis has already been implemented, and that’s what I’m there to explain to them.” Originally published by the Daily Caller News Foundation. The post ‘Isn’t Really A Policy Issue’: Tom Homan Tells CNN Why Democrats Really Want to Keep DHS Shut Down appeared first on The Daily Signal.

WASHINGTON, March 22 (Reuters) — The U.S. government has “plenty of money” to fund the war against Iran, but is requesting supplemental funding from Congress to ensure the military is well supplied in the future, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Sunday. Bessent, speaking on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” program, also ruled out pushing for any tax increases to fund the war. The U.S. military’s request for $200 billion in additional funding for the Iran war faces stiff opposition in Congress, with Democrats and even some Republicans questioning the need after large defense appropriations last year. Bessent defended the request without confirming the amount. President Donald Trump has not yet sent a request for the Senate and House of Representatives to approve the sum and his administration has made clear that the number could change. “We have plenty of money to fund this war,” Bessent said. “This is supplemental. President Trump has built up the military, as he did in his first term, as he is now doing in his second term, and he wants to make sure that the military is well supplied going forward.” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said last week that the extra money was needed “to ensure that we’re properly funded for what’s been done, for what we may have to do in the future.”  He dismissed a question about possible tax increases as “ridiculous” and said that was “not at all” under consideration. Early indications suggest that the war will be the most expensive for the U.S. since the long conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Administration officials told lawmakers that the first six days of the Iran war had cost more than $11 billion. The Republican-led Congress has already approved record funding for the military since Trump began his second term in January 2025. Last month, he signed into law the Fiscal 2026 Defense Appropriations Act with about $840 billion in funding. And last summer, over opposition from Democrats, the Republican-led Congress passed a sweeping tax cut and spending bill that included $156 billion for defense. Bessent also defended the Trump administration’s moves in recent days to lift sanctions on Iranian and Russian oil. Doing so, he argued, would allow other countries besides China—including Japan and South Korea—to purchase the oil, while preventing oil prices from spiking to $150 per barrel and reducing the overall revenues Iran and Russia would receive. He said a Treasury analysis showed that the maximum extra amount of oil revenue Russia could get would be $2 billion.     (Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Nicole Jao; Editing by Sergio Non and Mark Porter) The post Treasury’s Bessent Says US Has ‘Plenty’ of Funds for Iran War appeared first on The Daily Signal.

March 22 (Reuters) — U.S. President Donald Trump said that he will be sending Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on Monday to help out Transportation Security Administration personnel in U.S airports. “On Monday, ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents who have stayed on the job,” he said in a Truth Social post on Sunday, BASH: Are ICE agents going to move into American airports starting tomorrow?HOMAN: Yes. I'm currently working on the plan. We'll execute tomorrow.BASH: Are ICE agents even remotely trained to handle security at airports?HOMAN: ICE agents receive high-level training. pic.twitter.com/Z7ZNzJth6a— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 22, 2026 Trump had on Saturday threatened to deploy ICE agents to airports on Monday if congressional Democrats do not immediately agree to fund airport safety. (Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal in Bengaluru;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle) The post Trump Deploys ICE Agents to Assist TSA at Airports appeared first on The Daily Signal.

When Tonja Myles was struggling with addiction and childhood trauma, she promised to dedicate her life to serving God when she recovered. Now, she and her husband are providing food, toiletries, and financial assistance to Transportation Security Administration agents in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who are working without pay during a partial government shutdown. “We’re encouraging every faith-based organization you know in our country to do the same to step up and lead charge on this,” Myles told The Daily Signal, “and then reach out to their local community partners to say, ‘Hey, can you help them?'” The Department of Homeland Security has been shut down for 33 days as Senate Democrats are demanding reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In the meantime, TSA agents are working without paychecks. During the full government shutdown in October, Myles’ nonprofit, Set Free Indeed Ministries, provided 350 meals and more than $3,000 of personal hygiene items to TSA agents. The Baton Rouge airport reached out to Myles when DHS shut down last month, asking Set Free Indeed to help again. Myles has brought jambalaya, non-perishable food items, soap, paper towels, deodorant, toothpaste, gas station gift cards, and more to the agents. “Democrats are holding DHS funding hostage, and it has a real human cost,” a senior White House official told The Daily Signal. “Thankfully, faith leaders are stepping up in their communities to make sure essential workers are taken care of. It’s time for Democrats to end this shutdown and fully reopen the government.” Myles hopes the assistance will help the agents feed their families and pay for gas to get to work. “Not only TSA, but also DHS, they’re protecting our country, and we’re not protecting them,” Myles said. “That’s not what you do for a good soldier.” Myles hopes her work will inspire other nonprofits to care for TSA agents. “We want this challenge to be something not just here in Baton Rouge, but we want to challenge other faith-based organizations, churches around the country to do the same and do it now, because they’re hurting,” she said. The post ‘I Made a Promise to God’: Christian Nonprofit Supports TSA Agents During Shutdown appeared first on The Daily Signal.

As if Capitol Hill needed any more madness, the NCAA backetball tournament is upon us. While lawmakers consider the SAVE America Act, seek an end to the Department of Homeland Security shut down, and consider more war funding, they’re keeping one eye on March Madness. Possibly the most notable win so far in the tournament was High Point Universities’ last second upset, 83-82, against Wisconsin Thursday night. “For the first time in program history, High Point breaks through, we will see you in the round of 32!” a student announcer screamed over the school’s radio. Rep. David Rouzer, R-N.C., congratulated the small, North Carolina private school for the impressive win when asked by The Daily Signal about the upset.   High Point’s win over Wisconsin called by Student Radio.This is why we love March pic.twitter.com/ThgCvgMD0i— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 20, 2026 Lawmakers are watching the women’s tournament, too. Rep. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., A proud Vanderbilt nursing school alumna, placed her alma mater in the championship place for the men and women’s brackets. “I’m always cheering on Commodore athletics! I had an amazing experience at Vandy and I’m excited to see both the men’s and women’s teams make a strong run this year,” she told The Daily Signal. The Lady Commodores, a 2 seed, are heading for the second round of the tournament. The men, however, fell just short against Nebraska on Saturday, 72-74, to move on to the Sweet 16. “Obviously, I’m also rooting for our Virginia teams and, as I predicted, VCU upset UNC last night!” Kiggans continued. “March Madness is such a fun time,” Kiggans added. “Americans come together around the game.” As a @VanderbiltNurse alum, I might be a little biased…. Good luck to @vandymbb and @vandywbb in this year’s college basketball tournaments. Go Commodores! pic.twitter.com/ReYp2WOrqf— Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (@RepJenKiggans) March 19, 2026 Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., is all in this year on Missouri teams. Heading into Friday’s games, he posted his predictions for teams hailing from the Show-Me State on X. “At one point, Mizzou was super-hot,” Schmitt said. “There’s a lot of talent on that roster.” The 10 seed Tigers were facing the 7 seed Miami Hurricanes in the first round, which Schmitt called a “favorable matchup,” given the seeding. “I think Mizzou gets to the Sweet 16,” Schmitt said Friday—before Mizzou fell to the Hurricanes by double-digits. Schmitt also said the Saint Louis University Billikens were “one of the more complete teams,” in the tournament. The Billikens are “one of the high-octane offenses you’re going to find in college basketball,” he said on X.  The Billikens upset the Georgia Bulldogs, winning by 25 points, before falling to 1 seed Michigan in the second round. SLU and Mizzou are dancing. Let the madness begin! pic.twitter.com/tqLoNNMxwd— Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) March 19, 2026 “Since my alma mater, Indiana University, didn’t make the tournament this year, I’ll be cheering on the Purdue Boilermakers,” Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind., told The Daily Signal.   “March Madness is always better when Indiana teams are making a run, and Purdue will represent our state well. With Indiana hosting the Final Four, there’s no better time to bring it home. Boiler Up!” she continued.   “This is one of our favorite times of the year, especially for us in Arizona,” Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., said on X. The University of Arizona is one of the favorites to win the tournament. March Madness is here! Juan David and I just completed our NCAA brackets. While we have a few upsets, we also disagreed on a couple of games.One area did we agree on: Arizona Wildcats to win it all. Bear Down and Go Cats! ??? pic.twitter.com/70I4KKGByy— Congressman Juan Ciscomani (@RepCiscomani) March 18, 2026 Ciscomani shared that he made his bracket with his young son. “We have some disagreements, some upsets that we both think are going or happen or not, but we don’t disagree on our final choice for champions, and that’s of course the U of A,” Ciscomani said. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., shared on social media that he is, “excited to cheer on the athletes as they demonstrate why our state is the basketball capital of the world.”  And that nickname only exists because of the historic success of the UConn Huskies this time of year. UConn’s women’s team is a 1 seed and their men’s team is a 2 seed.   Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., was ecstatic to tell reporters this week that she will be cheering on Duke. “I’m a big basketball fan, but I did want to lord it all over you,” she said.   ??March Madness at the Capitol this afternoon: @SenCapito joked with reporters today sharing that she is rooting for @DukeMBB before making her support for the SAVE America Act@DailySignal pic.twitter.com/wz6V7SGWUJ— Virginia Grace McKinnon (@virginiagmck) March 17, 2026 “My men’s team is number one. That’s the Duke Blue Devils, for all you Duke haters out there, just watch,” she continued, joking with the press. Duke is heading for the Sweet 16 after defeating TCU on Saturday. Lawmakers might have a chance to see some of the action themselves. Washington D.C. is set to host the Sweet 16 and the Elite Eight games at Capitol One Arena from March 26-29.   As Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., said, “Let the madness begin!” Brackets are set. Let the madness begin! #MarchMadness #goSCteams pic.twitter.com/W1ulrePuUU— Senator Tim Scott (@SenatorTimScott) March 19, 2026 The post MADNESS: appeared first on The Daily Signal.