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

Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) criticized Congress on Sunday for routinely weaponizing government shutdowns to extract legislative concessions, speaking as the Department of Homeland Security remained unfunded. The Connecticut Democrat told CBS host Margaret Brennan that lawmakers have become too comfortable using shutdowns as a negotiating tactic rather than addressing funding gaps through regular appropriations processes. Himes's remarks reflect broader frustration among some legislators over the cycle of deadline-driven brinkmanship that has repeatedly forced stopgap funding measures in recent years. The DHS funding lapse underscores the ongoing gridlock over budget priorities between the White House and Congress. His comments suggest a shift in messaging among some Democrats toward acknowledging dysfunction in the appropriations process itself rather than solely blaming the opposing party.