Dem Rep. Slams Trump’s “Autocratic” Funding Power Grab

Congressman Blasts Trump’s Executive Actions on Government Funding

Illinois Congressman Mike Quigley, a member of the House Appropriations and Intelligence Committees, has voiced strong criticism regarding President Trump’s recent actions on government funding, particularly concerning the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Quigley argues that the President’s move to unilaterally decide what government employees get paid bypasses Congress and resembles an “autocratic regime,” moving away from established democratic processes.

DHS Funding Deal Sparks Debate Over ICE Reforms

The controversy comes as a funding deal for the DHS is being debated. Quigley noted that House Democrats would have supported a previous version of the deal, but expressed uncertainty about the current timeline and whether it represents a true victory. He believes Republicans are avoiding meaningful reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which he sees as a critical issue for Americans. “The bottom line is the Republicans are going to do anything to avoid reforming ICE,” Quigley stated. “I mean, the reason we held out and the reason this mattered is because reforming ICE was extremely important to every American.”

Proposed Reforms for ICE Fall Short, Says Congressman

Quigley highlighted that the reforms being discussed are not radical but rather standard guidelines followed by most police forces. These include measures like body cameras, judicial warrants, and restrictions on the use of force. He expressed frustration that a consensus reached a week prior, which would have funded most government operations while allowing for separate work on ICE, has stalled. “The fact, I think what we had a week ago, that consensus, that we would fund everything and then go forward. That was a victory in the sense because there was still hope that the Republicans would understand that the reforms we’re talking about are just the typical guidelines that every police force in this country has to follow,” he explained.

Two-Track Funding Plan Divides House Democrats

The congressman clarified that he would vote for a package funding the DHS without specific ICE and border protection measures, referring to this as the “first track.” However, he firmly stated he would vote against a “second track” that funds ICE and border operations for three years. Quigley suspects this longer funding period is an attempt by Republicans to secure funds while they believe they still hold power, disregarding the democratic process. He anticipates Democrats will have to fight to roll back such funding if a Republican president is in office. “But the first… the second track that funds ICE and border for three years, of course I’m going to vote against that,” Quigley said.

President Trump’s Executive Order on Employee Pay Criticized

Quigley’s most pointed criticism was reserved for President Trump’s announcement that he would sign an executive order to pay all DHS employees. He cited Article One of the Constitution, which grants Congress the power to control government revenue and expenditures. “This is just another step in which the president has taken that authority away from Congress,” Quigley argued. “And my Republican friends are letting them do that. They’re giving up that authority.” He believes this undermines the formal appropriation process, which involves debate and leads to better outcomes. “The fact that the president can willy-nilly decide what to fund and what not to fund, that’s an autocratic regime,” he declared. “It’s not our democracy as the founding fathers wrote it in the Constitution.”

Concerns Over Iran Strategy and Escalation

Shifting to foreign policy, Quigley also addressed President Trump’s statements regarding Iran. The President suggested that objectives in Iran were nearing completion while also planning to increase military action. Quigley, drawing on his experience on the Intelligence Committee, expressed skepticism. He stated that significant actions like regime change or obliterating a nuclear program would require substantial troop deployment. “The stated truth I’ve gotten for nine years on the intel committees, if you’re after—if you’re really going to change a regime or if you’re going to obliterate, as he said we already did, last year the nuclear program. That’s troops on the ground and a hell of a lot of them,” Quigley explained. He feels the President’s remarks are contradictory and do not reflect the complex reality of the situation, warning that wars in the Middle East do not follow a script and the threat of escalation remains high.

Source: 'That's an autocratic regime': Dem Rep. on Trump deciding what to fund (YouTube)