Obama-era DHS chief says ‘we’ve got to stop with these funding fights’

The Hill
by Ryan Mancini
March 22, 2026
2 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Former DHS chief urges Congress to end funding disputes and pay federal employees during shutdown.

How This Affects You

Federal employees face extended unpaid leave; operational capacity of DHS functions degraded during prolonged shutdown.

AI Summary

Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, who served under President Obama, called on lawmakers to fund the Department of Homeland Security and pay its employees during a shutdown lasting over a month, stating on the "Cats Roundtable" radio show hosted by John Catsimatidis on WABC 770 AM that "we've got to stop with these funding fights." The article provides limited additional context beyond Johnson's appearance and plea for action.

What's Being Done

Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson publicly calling for lawmakers to fund DHS and resolve funding impasse.

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