U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) sharply criticized President Trump’s refusal to negotiate on funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) during an appearance on MS NOW’s The Weeknight last night, calling the standoff a direct threat to national security and democratic processes.
Shortly before the interview, Blunt Rochester voted against the nomination of Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) to lead DHS. As a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and ranking member of its Coast Guard subcommittee, she warned that the ongoing impasse is having real-world consequences.
“It is clear that the challenges that we face right now…are not making us safer,” Blunt Rochester said, citing the deployment of ICE agents at airports and in communities nationwide. “Even commonsense reforms, like requiring judicial warrants for home visits, are being blocked.” She noted that Democrats have introduced eight bills to reopen parts of DHS while negotiations continue, but that Trump has refused to compromise unless Congress passes the SAVE America Act.
Blunt Rochester called the legislation a direct attempt to influence upcoming elections. “Will we even have an election when we get to November? Disenfranchising women—69 million whose names have changed—and people of color by creating a modern-day poll tax,” she said. She described the party’s efforts as a “team sport,” emphasizing the importance of public engagement to protect voting rights.
The senator also tied the political struggle to everyday concerns for Americans, from rising grocery and gas prices to the human cost of war. “When people think about their families, remember who’s in charge—but also remember who is here on the ground fighting for you,” she said.
Regarding DHS funding negotiations, Blunt Rochester said Democrats had nearly reached a deal before Trump tied it to passage of the SAVE America Act. “Who are the ‘right people’ to vote?” she asked. “This is really about controlling the electorate, not about security.”
Blunt Rochester concluded with a call to action: Democrats will continue working around the clock to safeguard both public safety and the integrity of the November election. “Everything depends on it in this very present moment,” she said.
