Democrats Must Fund DHS To Protect the Homeland

Under the Biden administration, more than 18,000 known or suspected terrorists and 700 Iranian nationals entered through our open border.

Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – Amidst a heightened threat environment across the nation, Democrats' continued refusal to fund the Department of Homeland Security is appalling. Shutting down this critical agency — which manages airport security, oversees disaster relief, protects our nation from cyber threats, and more — puts the security of our nation at risk. I am demanding Democrats put politics aside and fund DHS — before terror strikes again.

In just the past two weeks, our nation has witnessed a string of terror attacks: an ISIS-inspired attack in Austin that claimed three innocent lives, followed by a shooting at a Virginia ROTC classroom and a vehicle-ramming at a Michigan synagogue. My prayers are with the loved ones of the ROTC professor who was killed and with the Temple Israel community in the wake of these tragedies. Adding to this alarming trend, two individuals in New York attempted to detonate homemade bombs in the middle of a crowd this week. As the lead congressional investigator into the Boston Marathon bombing, I know that what happened in New York could have been far, far worse.

I'm incredibly grateful these bombs did not detonate as planned. The NYPD also did a spectacular job at the scene. However, we must work to ensure threats like these are detected and neutralized before they happen. Under the Biden administration, more than 18,000 known or suspected terrorists and 700 Iranian nationals entered through our open border. That's why we must be so vigilant in defending against "sleeper cells" — individuals in the U.S. who may act on behalf of Iran to conduct terror activity inside the homeland.

Last week, I joined NewsNation — live from Republicans' conference with President Trump in Florida — to discuss my counterterrorism experience and how to protect our nation.