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Today we have a question from Frank from Virginia, who writes I’ve heard both Mark and Scott say that the Department of Homeland Security shouldn’t exist, and I’ve also heard the broader call from others to 'defund DHS.” That phrase in particular is where I struggle. DHS is often treated as synonymous with ICE or CBP, but those are just two components of a much larger department. DHS also includes the Coast Guard, FEMA, CISA, TSA, FLETC, the Office of Inspector General, USCIS, and the Secret Service. Each of those agencies serves very different missions, and while it’s completely fair to debate the merits of any one of them, a blanket call to defund DHS risks unintended consequences for agencies that many people would consider essential.
If DHS funding were cut dramatically, it seems plausible that ICE and CBP would retain much of their funding while other, less politically visible but highly functional agencies absorb the losses. FEMA already struggles to meet the growing demand for disaster relief. CISA, though less well known, plays a crucial role in protecting critical infrastructure, such as election systems, our power grids, our hospitals, and more, from cyber threats. TSA funding cuts would directly affect everyday travelers. Even agencies that most people rarely think about provide services that quietly support national security and public safety without being questionable or offensive. Broad reductions could have ripple effects that reach far beyond immigration enforcement.
I’d really appreciate hearing the panel’s thoughts on this. If DHS were to be restructured or dismantled, what would that process realistically look like? How feasible is it to move or separate subagencies from DHS? And in the meantime, how should people think about reform that targets specific problems without weakening agencies that provide tangible public benefits?
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2026/03/0955 分