The concerns over the security system in the United States mount as the stalemate continues in Congress over a crucial funding bill for the Homeland Security Department even when just few days left for the lapse of agency’s financing.
The fear of shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security looms large as both Republicans and Democrats in Congress look adamant at their respective stances in a political battle over the recent executive actions of President Barack Obama on the country’s immigration policies.
The funding for the Homeland Security Department will run out on Friday.
Recently, House speaker John A. Boehner has indicated that he is prepared to allow the lapse of financing for the security agency if the Senate continues to spell the same fate for the spending bill, which was sent by House over last month after passing it.
In addition to funding the Homeland Security Department, the bill would also gut Democratic President Obama’s legal protections for more than five million undocumented immigrants, including children, living in the country.
This would be for the second time in less than two years when the Homeland Security officials are preparing for worst-case situation of shut down. In October 2013, the entire federal government witnessed a shut down for 16 days.
In the recent times, the lawmakers from both parties appear pointing fingers against each other over the issue.
Republicans are accusing Senate Democrats of preventing the Senate from taking up the funding bill that was passed by House, while Democrats counterattack saying they will not back anything short of a “clean” spending bill containing no amendments related to immigration.
Approximately 15 percent of the 230,000 Homeland Security employees, i.e. roughly 30,000, would be furloughed if the agency is closed.
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