Mayorkas Defends Border Policies as GOP Sees Budget Gimmicks (1)

House Republicans in charge of homeland security spending came out swinging during a budget hearing Wednesday, accusing the Department of Homeland Security of using accounting tricks to obfuscate the impact of its fiscal 2024 request.

DHS is seeking $60.4 billion in discretionary funding overall, a small dip compared with current levels. Some Republicans have criticized the proposed decrease while others have complained that the budget would actually balloon when accounting for some provisions, including a proposed change in how Transportation Security Administration fees are used.

“The budget is full of gimmicks that mask the true cost of protecting the homeland ...