Press Releases
April 30, 2026
Washington, D.C. – House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement regarding today’s House passage of H.R. 7147, which will now head to President Trump's desk to end the Democrat-led Department of Homeland Security shutdown:
April 29, 2026
Washington, D.C. – The Senate Democrat-led shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security has dragged on for more than 70 days – and counting. It is the longest shutdown in American history. Despite terrorist-linked attacks in U.S. communities and another attempt on President Trump’s life just last weekend, Senate Democrats – rallied by Chuck Schumer – continue to deny full, reliable funding to key security agencies and operations.
April 3, 2026
Washington, D.C. – House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement regarding President Trump’s action to pay all Department of Homeland Security personnel who have missed compensation due to the Democrat-driven shutdown.
March 31, 2026
Washington, D.C. – The Democrat-led shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security has now surpassed any shutdown in history. Since February, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his caucus have directed DHS personnel to work without guaranteed paychecks, wreaked havoc at airports across the nation, and purposely limited resources to protect the homeland. And to add insult to injury, as the crisis they created drags on, they’ve headed out of town for a two-week recess.
March 27, 2026
Washington, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives passed the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7147, the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026. The legislation fully reopens the Department of Homeland Security, pays all personnel, and ensures critical operations are resourced and ready.
March 27, 2026
Washington, D.C. – Today, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) testified before the House Committee on Rules in support of the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 7147, the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act, 2026.
March 26, 2026
Washington, D.C. – As the Democrat-directed shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) marks its 41st day, another troubling milestone is fast approaching: surpassing last year’s historic lapse. With each passing day, the consequences grow more severe – undermining national security and placing an increasing strain on the workforce tasked with keeping Americans safe.
March 25, 2026
Washington, D.C. – The Department of Homeland Security has been shut down for 40 days, making it the longest partial government shutdown in history, and nearing the record-breaking 43-day total government shutdown from last fall.
March 24, 2026
Washington, D.C. – Today, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) spoke before the House Committee on Rules in support of H.R. 8029, the Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act.
March 24, 2026
Washington, D.C. – As the Democrat-led shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shatters all the wrong records to become the longest partial government shutdown in history, it is the American people who are paying the price.
