Tensions are boiling over as the Democrats’ partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues to drag on with no end in sight, and one GOP senator is lashing out at colleagues who were MIA for a Friday funding vote.
Senate Democrats, with the notable exception of renegade Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), defeated the latest effort to advance a bill to fund DHS that has already passed the House on Friday, extending the crisis to 35 days amid chaos at the nation’s airports during the busy Spring Break travel season.
The 47-37 vote to advance the bill fell far short of the 60 votes needed to overcome the Democrat filibuster, with sixteen senators inexplicably choosing to be no-shows, a dereliction of duty that had Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) fuming.
Statement to @FoxNews on the absences via Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL):
“I am frustrated. It’s ridiculous that 16 members of the Senate aren’t here to vote today. We have crazy lines at TSA. TSA workers aren’t getting paid and 16 senators aren’t here to vote. I’ve been trying to get…
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 20, 2026
“I am frustrated. It’s ridiculous that 16 members of the Senate aren’t here to vote today. We have crazy lines at TSA. TSA workers aren’t getting paid and 16 senators aren’t here to vote. I’ve been trying to get No Budget No Pay done since I got up here. Politicians in both parties keep stopping it. TSA isn’t getting paid. Congress isn’t doing its job and shouldn’t get paid. People need to show up,” the Florida Republican said in a statement to Fox News.
UPDATE: Senate Republicans who didn’t vote on DHS funding procedural vote today were:
Britt, Daines, Sheehy, Tuberville, Wicker, Fischer, Paul
Senate Democrats who didn’t vote were:
Coons, Gallego, Kaine, Kelly, Klobuchar, Schiff, Shaheen, Smith, Whitehouse
Failed 47-37
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 20, 2026
It was the fifth time that Senate Democrats have blocked the bill as they continue to hold the nation hostage to force drastic changes that would severely hobble the ability of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deport illegal aliens who are vital to the party’s political survival.
“Senate Democrats don’t want to fund DHS because they care more about protecting illegal aliens than taking care of the 270,000+ hardworking Americans who keep us safe,” Scott said in a Friday post to X. “They just had ANOTHER chance to fund DHS, but they REFUSED. It’s CRAZY!”
Senate Democrats don’t want to fund DHS because they care more about protecting illegal aliens than taking care of the 270,000+ hardworking Americans who keep us safe.
They just had ANOTHER chance to fund DHS, but they REFUSED. It’s CRAZY!
It’s WRONG! If politicians in…
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) March 20, 2026
“It’s WRONG! If politicians in Congress won’t do their jobs and pass a budget, they shouldn’t get paid. We need to fund DHS and pass my No Budget, No Pay Act so this NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN,” he added.
DHS and the White House shared footage of the Democrat-created nightmare at the nation’s airports, a sick example of how Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and his minions are willing to screw ordinary Americans to advance their political agenda – and keep their illegal aliens safe.
Travelers are facing extremely long security lines at Palm Beach International Airport and at airports around the country because Democrats REFUSE to fund DHS and pay our TSA officers.
It is time for Democrats to END the DHS Shutdown. pic.twitter.com/YzJkyH8EUK
— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) March 20, 2026
This is intentional. ⬇️ Democrats are holding American travelers hostage and denying federal workers their paychecks for political leverage.
End the games. REOPEN DHS! pic.twitter.com/PhA4Vqe0ab
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 20, 2026
Family flying out of Atlanta arrives nearly 4 hours before their flight due to the massive TSA line as a result of the shutdown of @DHSgov.
“I feel bad for the workers.”
“They need to be paid!”
Democrats must end this cruel shutdown NOW! pic.twitter.com/e1mi4sb9yu
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 20, 2026
“Reining in ICE has a way to go. There are deep disagreements. The Republicans have not accepted that the people want real legislation to ensure the kind of brutality we saw in Minneapolis can’t happen again,” Schumer declared in a Friday statement that also flipped reality upside down by blaming the shutdown on Republicans.
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