Republican leadership faced criticism once again as they agreed to a third continuing resolution, extending the funding for the government without addressing key border security issues. In December 2022, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer set the Democrat agenda, and Republicans initially pushed for a government shutdown to address the surge of illegal migrants crossing into the U.S. under the Biden administration. However, 107 Republicans in the House and 26 in the Senate joined Democrats to continue funding the government without addressing border security.
Chairman Michael McCaul, the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and one of the Republican representatives who voted to continue funding without new border funding, defended the decision. He stated that refusing to fund the government would jeopardize military readiness and insult the Border Patrol agents who are working tirelessly. While he acknowledged the need for border security, he argued for giving Congress more time to work on a comprehensive border security package.
