Playing partisan games with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding is a profound disservice to all Americans and could potentially embolden our adversaries. Despite tired attempts to portray DHS as a mere immigration enforcement department, the department’s core mission is to protect Americans from terrorism, cyberattacks, and other threats to public safety and national security. Its importance to our national security cannot be understated. The American people deserve a DHS strengthened by recent resource increases, and as agile, focused, and effective as possible in carrying out this mission.
Chad F. Wolf serves as chair of homeland security and immigration at the America First Policy Institute. He previously served as acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security during President Donald Trump’s first term. Thomas K. Plofchan III is a senior fellow for homeland security and immigration at the America First Policy Institute. He previously served as senior counselor for counterterrorism and intelligence to the secretary of Homeland Security and commissioner of Customs and Border Protection.