Case Opposes Homeland Security Funding Measure That Weakens Key National Security Components And Ignores Immigration Enforcement Reform

This press release from Representative Ed Case (D-HI) was published on 2026-06-11 and titled "Case Opposes Homeland Security Funding Measure That Weakens Key National Security Components And Ignores Immigration Enf".

Case Opposes Homeland Security Funding Measure That Weakens Key National Security Components And Ignores Immigration Enforcement Reform

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01) reported that his House Appropriations Committee early this morning approved its proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Homeland Security Appropriations measure over his no vote. The Homeland Security measure is the 11 th of 12 measures taken up by Appropriations to collectively fund the federal government for FY 2027 (commencing October 1, 2026). The measure proposes a total $99.5 billion for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which includes FEMA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Coast Guard, Secret Service and more. Case is in his 8 th year on Appropriations and his 4 th year on the Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee which develops this measure. He has focused on ensuring FEMA’s continued support for Hawai‘i, investing in the Coast Guard’s presence in the Pacific and enhancing the security of Hawai‘i through significant investments in physical, cyber and infrastructure security. “Despite the strong support this bill provides for emergency management and our Coast Guard, I could not accept the overall result, which would make Americans less safe through deep cuts to key elements of homeland security including CISA and TSA,” said Case. “I also cannot support additional funding to ICE or CBP’s Border Patrol without comprehensive, meaningful immigration enforcement reforms.” He cited the following examples from the measure, which significantly cut or eliminated key programs including: A roughly 10 percent cut to CISA’s operations, leaving Americans more vulnerable to cybersecurity and infrastructure security threats at a time where there is a need for heightened security. The elimination of funding for the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, whose primary responsibility is to investigate abuse, misconduct and rights violations in immigration detention facilities. A 12 percent cut to the DHS Office of Inspector General, which is responsible for conducting independent oversight of the DHS. An overall $347 million cut to TSA. The FY 2026 appropriations process for this Subcommittee was particularly consequential and difficult. Earlier this year, DHS experienced a record government shutdown following the tragic deaths of two Americans in encounters involving ICE and CBP agents in January 2026. Case has maintained throughout that any additional funding for immigration enforcement agencies must be paired with meaningful oversight, transparency measures and reforms to ensure accountability, protect civil liberties and restore public trust. Congress was unable to reach a deal on reforms and funding for ICE and CBP’s Border Patrol in FY 2026, and instead it passed an annual appropriations bill funding the other non-controversial agencies in DHS. The President recently signed into law a separate reconciliation bill to fund those activities through 2029, which Congress approved solely on a partisan basis over Case’s no vote. However, some common-sense reforms and positive additions advocated for by Case were included in the FY 2027 draft bill: Bill language prohibiting the restriction of individuals from recording or documenting immigration enforcement actions. Bill language reinstating CBP and ICE training requirements from January 2025. Bill language requiring visible identification for officers carrying out immigration enforcement activities. Bill language prohibiting the detention or deportation of U.S. citizens. $40 million for the body-worn camera program. Additionally, through his assignment on the Committee, Case secured $1.6 million in Member-designated Community Project Funding projects that specifically focus on local needs in Hawai‘i: · $581,533 for the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency’s (HIEMA) Kapolei Warehouse Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Renovation. This project would fund the construction of a satellite EOC on the west side of O‘ahu in a multi-use Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) warehouse. $1,007,060 for HIEMA’s DHHL Warehouse Retrofit Project. This project would fund critically needed improvements to the same multi-use DHHL warehouse by installing an emergency power backup generator, automatic transfer switch and housing, ultimately strengthening Hawaii’s ability to pre-position emergency supplies and equipment on the west side of O‘ahu. The House’s Community Project Funding rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, be fully disclosed by the requesting Member and subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case’s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/services/funding-disclosures.htm . Case also secured a number of key programs and provisions for Hawai‘i and the broader Pacific, including: 346 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants, wh