New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton ‘Very Concerned’ About Potential DHS Shutdown
— -- New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton journeyed to Washington, DC on Friday to attend a handful of meetings regarding the funding of the Department of Homeland Security, which is due to run out by midnight if members of Congress cannot reach consensus on a bill.
While in Washington, Bratton met with Lisa Monaco, Homeland Security Advisor to President Obama; Jeh Johnson, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security; and James Comey, Director of the FBI.
“Universally, they are very concerned about this,” Bratton said at a news conference.
Bratton urged lawmakers on Capitol Hill to fully fund the department.
“We cannot fund the nation’s counterterrorism program and the Department of Homeland Security on the ‘installment plan,’” Bratton said. “This idea of kicking the can down the road for three weeks, the idea of passing this continuing resolution bill is just not practical or feasible.”
Bratton added that his city is arguably the, “number one target.”
A lapse in funding could bring employee furloughs in the short term and an array of long-term consequences.
“Given the current threats facing this country, holding an agency responsible for protecting Americans from terrorism, hostage to politics is irresponsible at best and dangerous at worst,” Bratton said at the news conference held outside the Newseum in Washington.
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