General

Himes says Congress has ‘gotten too used to using shutdowns’ for leverage

Source: The Hill March 29, 2026 at 3:21 PM (2 weeks ago) Connecticut House

Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) criticized Congress for routinely using government shutdowns as a negotiating tactic, citing the ongoing unfunded Department of Homeland Security as a current example of the dysfunctional legislative process.

Key Points

  • Himes argues Congress has become overly dependent on shutdown threats as legislative leverage
  • DHS remains without funding, highlighting the broader gridlock in budget negotiations
  • Democrat calls for Congress to break the cycle of using shutdowns as political tools