Three takeaways from DHS shutdown

As was true for last summer’s government shutdown, the current Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown is 100% the Democrats’ fault. Republicans want to fund the agency, which, given the war against Iran, seems like a good idea. Democrats want to virtue signal for their radical base.

Win: Republicans. Even the fake news legacy media can’t hide that fact. That’s takeaway number 1, so obvious you don’t get credit for seeing it. But there are three more takeaways worthy of note.

During his recent State of the Union Address, President Donald Trump called out to Congress. “If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support. The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens, not illegal aliens.” Democrats sat on their hands and glowered. The shutdown shows the Democrats at least back up their sitting with inaction.

Getting through security at the nation’s airports is often a royal pain, but the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) is part of DHS. So, thanks to the Senate Democrats’ shutdown, that pain can now stretch three or four hours at major airports like Houston and Atlanta. In Austin, the line stretched outside the terminal. Republicans should post signs at these airports that read, “If you like waiting in long TSA lines, thank a Democrat.”

And why have Democrats refused to fund the TSA? It’s a petty political protest stunt against Trump’s deportation policies. To be sure, the folks at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) went overboard in Minneapolis, but Trump quickly rectified the matter with new leadership, so much so that state and local officials now cooperate with ICE.

Senate Democrats can’t let the matter go, however, as they strive to weaken ICE and keep their radical political base energized. Consequently, Democrats are content to let American travelers stew in obscenely long TSA wait lines to protest deportations– choosing illegals over Americans. That’s creditable takeaway number 1. When Democrats sat stone-faced during the State of the Union, announcing their disregard for Americans, they meant it.

Takeaway 2: Because both parties like to play the shutdown game, the federal government is revealed to be too untrustworthy to provide essential services like TSA security. But there is a remedy.

Airports have the right and ability to replace TSA screeners with properly vetted and trained private screeners under the Screening Partnership Program (SPP). About 20 US airports use the SPP, including San Francisco International, where travelers remain insulated against shutdowns.

The Trump Administration should encourage more airports to go SPP. The airlines, which recently sent a damning letter to Congress about the Democrats’ shutdown, should also encourage more airports to take this step. Greater adoption of the SPP would protect airports, airlines, and their customers from the next shutdown — and there will be a next shutdown.

The vast majority of TSA agents showing up to work today are minor heroes in their own right. True, they will ultimately be paid. But many TSA agents working without a timely paycheck suffer real financial hardship. They should be rewarded in some fashion. For example, perhaps those who show up to work during a shutdown should get an extra hour of paid time off for every day of delayed-pay work.

On the other hand, many TSA agents are staying home. They could show up to work. They choose not to. That’s their right. Maybe they need a side gig to pay the bills while Democrats play their games.

However, these stay-home TSA agents will eventually get paid — whether they show up to work or not. That’s wrong. Symmetry. If you show up to work during a shutdown, you should get something extra, like an extra hour of paid time off. But for every day you don’t show up to work, performing your normal tasks normally, you should lose a day of paid time off. It’s crazy to pay workers who didn’t show up as though they did.

If only there were a similar reward and penalty system for Senate Democrats.

J.D. Foster is the former chief economist at the Office of Management and Budget and former chief economist and senior vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He now resides in relative freedom in the hills of Idaho.

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.

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