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Hoyer tells Southern Maryland delegation he will withhold ICE funding until reforms, cites Potomac sewage spill and fights to keep FBI site
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Summary
At a Southern Maryland delegation meeting in February 2026, Congressman Steny Hoyer called for defunding ICE pending reforms, urged funding for other Homeland Security components, raised concerns about a major sewage spill into the Potomac and said he is fighting to keep a planned FBI site in Maryland.
Congressman Steny Hoyer told the Southern Maryland delegation that he supports withholding funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement until the agency adopts reforms and its conduct aligns with constitutional policing.
"That shutdown ... results from, as all of you know, the actions of the ICE, not only in Minneapolis but around the country in terms of its assault on people, American citizens, warrantless, arrests, and breaking into homes," Hoyer said, describing what he called unacceptable tactics. He added that "we're not gonna fund, them," while stressing his intention to fund other parts of the Department of Homeland Security, such as FEMA, the Coast Guard, TSA and the Secret Service.
Hoyer also warned of local consequences from a large sewage spill into the Potomac River. "Our watermen are gonna be affected. Our fishery is gonna be, affected," he said, and called for coordinated federal, state and local responses and funding support.
On a separate federal-local issue, Hoyer described ongoing efforts to keep an FBI facility in Maryland after the General Services Administration27s site selection became contested. He said Maryland won the original site-selection process and that state and local leaders have pushed back against proposals to relocate the bureau to a downtown federal building.
Delegation members used Hoyer27s appearance to press him on redistricting and local priorities. Senator Ellis asked how to encourage state senators to act on a redistricting measure; Hoyer said midcycle redistricting is "chaotic" but urged putting measures on the floor so senators can vote. Ellis also pressed for earmarks for Charles County projects, including a sports and wellness center in Waldorf; Hoyer said earmark consideration remains possible this cycle and confirmed he would review submitted requests.
Hoyer listed several earmarks and community projects secured for Southern Maryland, including investments for MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital, Calvert Memorial, MedStar St. Mary27s Hospital, Charles County Sheriff27s Office, infrastructure in Indian Head, YMCA projects in St. Mary27s County and housing authority support. He said these allocations reflect sustained federal engagement with the region.
The meeting concluded with additional questions from delegation members and Hoyer27s assurance that he was continuing to press leadership on both national and region-specific priorities.
