Airports Under Pressure As Florida Rep. Byron Donalds Blasts Dems Over DHS Standoff - Tampa Free Press

In a live appearance on Fox News Sunday, Representative Byron Donalds (R-FL) laid the blame for the current Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown squarely at the feet of congressional Democrats, citing rising tensions at major American travel hubs. The Florida congressman pointed to growing delays at airports, including JFK, LaGuardia, Houston, and Atlanta. According to Donalds, these disruptions stem from a Democratic-led effort to defund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite the agency having already secured two years of funding through prior budget reconciliation measures. "The reason why the President can send ICE agents in, potentially starting Monday, is because Congress -- through 'One Big Beautiful Bill' -- funded ICE for the next two years," Donalds said during the interview. "So, the Democrats have shut down Homeland Security... This is the stupidest thing going on in America." READ: South Carolina Sen. Graham Takes Heat From Every Corner Comparing Iranian Island Invasion To Iwo Jima The standoff comes as Republicans push for the Senate to take up the SAVE America Act, a piece of legislation focused on tightening election security. Donalds argued that the bill's core components, such as mandatory voter ID, carry broad public support that is being ignored by his colleagues across the aisle. "Everybody in the country agrees with voter ID and making sure that Americans, and only Americans, are voting in our elections," Donalds stated. He further suggested that opposition to the bill is limited to elected Democrats, claiming they "want our election systems open to fraud and abuse." The congressman's remarks echoed sentiments shared by Senator Mike Lee, framing the debate as a choice between "common sense" security and political gamesmanship. Donalds concluded by urging the opposition to "simply do the right thing" to alleviate the frustration currently felt by American travelers and voters alike. Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage. Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox