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Rules hearing exposes wide split over budget resolution and proposed ICE/CBP funding
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Summary
House Rules Committee heard competing arguments about a concurrent budget resolution that would enable reconciliation instructions and potentially provide up to $140 billion more for ICE and CBP; supporters framed it as necessary to avoid DHS shutdown, opponents called it an unfunded expansion that worsens the deficit and ignores accountability concerns.
Committee members debated a concurrent budget resolution (S CONRES 33) that sets budget levels and could tee up reconciliation instructions. Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington said action was needed to prevent a prolonged funding gap at the Department of Homeland Security and to ensure agencies including ICE and CBP are resourced to perform border and customs missions.
"Enough's enough," Arrington said, arguing that without new action "poor folks at Homeland Security ... would go without pay for 100 days." He characterized the resolution as necessary to protect ports and frontline operations.
Representative Jasmine Crockett and other Democratic members argued the measure would enable up to $140 billion in additional ICE/CBP funding and accused the majority of using reconciliation to avoid bipartisan compromise and evade scrutiny. Representative Escobar called the plan "partisan" and warned it would blow up the deficit while failing to address broader economic pressures such as rising prices for food and gasoline.
A key technical dispute concerned whether the resolution's reconciliation instructions violated House rules that bar reconciliation from increasing direct spending; Democrats argued the package contravened clause 7 of rule XXI and would expand deficits, while proponents cited CBO estimates on short‑term deficits and argued the resolution fits the committee's goals.
The Rules Committee did not take final action during the hearing; members debated amendment opportunities and whether the House should rely on reconciliation rather than regular appropriations process to fund DHS and related priorities.
