CHARLESTON, W.Va. — There is no clear path forward to end a partial federal government shutdown that is impacting the Department of Homeland Security, and according to Senator Jim Justice, that is just the way Democrats want it.
The Senate recessed on Thursday, and lawmakers left Washington, D.C., after Democrats rejected a stopgap spending bill, expressing concern that negotiations for a full-year spending plan were not progressing quickly enough. Democrats are demanding reforms to immigration enforcement tactics.
During an appearance on MetroNews “Talkline,” Senator Justice asserted that ICE reforms are not the actual goal of the shutdown.
“The Democrats are playing a hand for the midterm election. That’s all this is. That’s all in the world this is, and they don’t really care who they hurt,” said Justice.
Funding for DHS lapsed on Saturday.
Agencies that do not deal with border security are unfunded, and employees are working without pay. Democrats in Congress have made nearly a dozen demands they say must be met before they will sign on to any funding proposal for DHS. Those demands include tightening warrant requirements, unmasking agents, and ending roving patrols.
Justice is adamant that an agreement can be reached, but that being outweighed by political considerations.
“They [Democrats] don’t want to figure this out. They want this to drag on where they can get up on their soap boxes and they can absolutely make a pitch for the midterm election. That’s what this is all about,” said Justice.
“This situation, whether it be FEMA or the Coast Guard or whoever it may be, and folks not getting paid is just horrible. People standing in line at the airports because TSA workers are getting paid and part of them are not working, it’s terrible,” continued Justice.
The Trump Administration’s poll numbers regarding immigration enforcement have been dropping.
A large-sample USA Today survey conducted January 27 through February 6 (released Feb. 11, 2026) reported about 60% somewhat or strongly disapproving and 40% approving of Trump’s immigration approach.
Strong disapproval numbers have climbed sharply.
An NBC poll shows “strong disapprove” on immigration rising from mid-30s in spring 2025 to roughly half of adults (around 49–51%) now.
Justice does not believe the policy is the problem, but rather that Republicans are not doing a sufficient job of selling that policy to the public.
“Republicans want to get a lot of good stuff done and get a lot of good stuff done and their marketing of the message is terrible,” Justice said.
“It’s almost like we as Republicans and the President have pitched nine straight perfect games, and we’re sitting around worrying about winning the midterms. Well, how can that possibly be? Unless you are marketing yourself terrible,” said Justice.
The back-and-forth squabbling between Democrats and Republicans vying for positioning in the upcoming midterm elections is a constant source of frustration for Justice
“That’s what’s wrong with Washington, DC. It’s always just a food fight. It’s the Republicans against the Democrats and Democrats against the Republicans, and who can win the battle. At the end of the day, I always tell everybody, there’s a name, and there’s a family at the end of every business, but they don’t care about that. That’s why Congress has a 14% approval rating. And it’s deserving, you know, it is just, it’s, that’s, that’s not good.”