WH: To support police, fund Homeland Security

The White House on Thursday invoked the death of two New York City police officers late last month while arguing that congressional Republicans should pass legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) throughout the remainder of the year.

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said those worried about politicians’ support for law enforcement in the aftermath of the shooting should be particularly inclined to make sure the DHS is funded. 

{mosads}“I’m not sure what you could do to more undermine the relationship between political leaders and law enforcement than to threaten to withhold their paychecks, even while they’re doing their job,” Earnest said. “That’s not the proper way to show their support for them.”

The press secretary noted that there had been some “very aggressive rhetoric from Republicans” in the aftermath of the police deaths.

Republicans from New York, including former Gov. George Pataki, Rep. Pete King, and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, criticized the Obama administration for backing protests critical of police tactics. The man responsible for the shooting posted anti-police screeds related to controversial killings in Ferguson and Staten Island on social media. 

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security will run out by the end of next month. GOP leaders had hoped to use the deadline as leverage to force the president to roll back aspects of his executive orders on immigration, but the White House has threatened to veto any such effort.

Earnest said he was hopeful “Republicans are going to come to their senses” and “show some responsibility” before then.

“Republicans have shirked their responsibility to fund one of the government’s most critical agencies, charged with protecting our homeland, securing our borders and enforcing our immigration laws, in favor of a political stunt,” he said. “And it is now time for them to put their games aside, so the men and women of this agency can focus on their important mission, which is keeping the country safe.”