Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin launched a blistering attack on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday, calling him a “lying scumbag politician” as Senate Republicans push to end the nearly 70-day funding lapse for the Department of Homeland Security.
During an interview with Fox News anchor Bill Melugin, Mullin was shown a clip of Schumer claiming that “nobody” in the United States “respects” Immigration and Customs Enforcement or U.S. Border Patrol. Mullin responded sharply, saying the comment “makes my ears red.”
“It takes a lot to get me upset,” Mullin said. “But Chuck Schumer, no one respects you. The definition of a lying, scumbag politician – that is you. You would be the definition if you Googled you right now.”
Mullin accused Schumer of favoring “open borders” and noted that if Schumer wanted to reform federal immigration agencies, “you had time to change those during the Biden administration.” He added, “You didn’t because you’re for open borders and you’re for the criminals running amok in our cities.” Mullin also questioned Schumer’s safety without a security detail, saying, “How about he walks around these city streets without a detail? I wonder how safe he would feel.”
President Trump also weighed in on Schumer’s remarks, writing on Truth Social that they were “one of the most egregious, incorrect, unpatriotic, and dangerous statements I have EVER heard from a ‘professional’ politician.” Trump demanded an immediate apology to ICE and Border Patrol personnel.
The funding fight comes as Senate Republicans adopted a budget resolution early Thursday that could restore DHS funding through the remainder of Trump’s term. They plan to advance a package next month worth between $70 billion and $80 billion. Democrats blocked DHS funding in mid-February, citing the need for widespread reforms after federal immigration officers shot and killed two U.S. citizens during operations in Minneapolis in January.
Most DHS employees have continued working without pay, but the shutdown has disrupted airport operations as hundreds of TSA workers have called out sick or quit. Mullin warned Tuesday that the department will be unable to pay salaries starting in early May. “The money is going extremely fast, and once that happens, there is no emergency funds after that,” he told Fox News. “After we get through April … I’ve got one payroll left.”
This latest clash echoes other partisan battles, such as Schumer accusing Trump of weaponizing the DOJ and Mullin’s earlier warning about the DHS payroll crisis.
