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‘The Karen Wing Of The Democratic Party Is In Control’: John Kennedy Exposes Game That Could Freeze DHS Pay

John Kennedy Exposes Game That Could Freeze DHS Pay (Screenshot/X/John Kennedy)

Republican Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy on Thursday exposed what he called a political maneuver that could freeze pay for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel.

While speaking on the Senate floor, Kennedy rejected claims that lawmakers are engaged in a good-faith budget debate over taxpayer dollars. He said DHS is barreling toward a shutdown, with no clear path to reopen if negotiations fall through.

“The Department of Homeland Security is about to shut down. We don’t know how to get back open. What does that mean? It means ICE will be shut down. We’ve got some ideas about how to keep it operating. They have enough money. It means TSA will be shut down. They’re not going to be paid. That’ll impact airport travel,” Kennedy said. “Coast Guard will be shut down. FEMA. God help us if we have a natural disaster. It’ll be shut down. What’s about to happen is top of the list, king of the hill, a number one stupid. And it’s happening just not because of policy. It’s happening because of raw gut politics. If you could see what I see, your gag reflex would be permanently triggered.”

Kennedy accused what he dubbed the “Karen Wing” of the Democratic Party of pressuring party leaders to oppose the DHS funding bill.

WATCH:

“Here’s what’s going on. The Karen Wing of the Democratic Party is in control of the Democratic Party. And the Karen Wing of the Democratic Party, not all Democrats, but there’s clearly a Karen Wing. Sometimes I call them the Loon Wing. They have gone to Minority Leader Jeffries and my friend, Senator Schumer, and said, ‘Don’t you vote for that Homeland Security bill.’ Why? Because the Karen Wing of the Democratic Party wants to defund ICE,” Kennedy said. “Now, we’ve seen this vampire movie before. The Karen Wing of the Democratic Party also wanted us to defund the police. How’d that work out for us? The criminals are still laughing. Now, they want to defund ICE. ”

The House of Representatives narrowly passed a spending bill in January that funds the DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, despite objections from most Democrats. Lawmakers voted 220-207 to approve the standalone measure, with only seven Democrats backing it as House Democrats oppose continued ICE funding without sweeping reforms.

Some Democrats have openly called to abolish ICE, with Democratic Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett urging lawmakers to scrap the agency outright. The House Democrats also pushed to condition DHS funding on major ICE reforms, including requiring judicial warrants for certain enforcement actions.

Coverage further noted that Democratic lawmakers threatened to withhold support for appropriations bills that continued funding ICE without structural changes. Dozens of Democrats have publicly vowed to oppose funding for immigration enforcement agencies, casting their stance as part of a broader progressive effort to rein in ICE’s authority.

(Featured Image Media Credit: Screenshot/X/John Kennedy)