After House Republicans on Friday rejected the Senate-passed measure to fund the DHS without ICE, which would end the Homeland Security shutdown and alleviate the shortage of TSA agents and growing delays at airports across the country, they advanced a short-term stopgap which would fund the DHS, ICE and Border Patrol (for the next two months), knowing Democrats will not agree to it.
U.S. Representative Michael Baumgartner (R-WA) aired his grievances about his congressional job on social media late Friday night.
Baumgartner wrote: “I’m fully aware that this job requires tons of travel and crazy hours, but it does indeed bug me that I’m here in DC at 11:30pm voting (for the 4th time!) to fully fund the Homeland budget and missing my kids hoops game tomorrow morning back in Washington because the Senate pulled their BS stunt last night.”
I’m fully aware that this job requires tons of travel and crazy hours, but it does indeed bug me that I’m here in DC at 11:30pm voting (for the 4th time!) to fully fund the Homeland budget and missing my kids hoops game tomorrow morning back in Washington because the Senate…
— Congressman Michael Baumgartner (@RepBaumgartner) March 28, 2026
Baumgartner’s complaint was met with heavy criticism including comments like “You know how many parents miss games and activities because they have to have 2 and sometimes 3 jobs and still are having a hard time just putting food on the table? That bugs me,” and “Your job also gives you tons of time off and great perks. If you’re looking for sympathy you may not find it here.”
Note: In April 2025, Baumgartner introduced the Restore College Sports Act with the aim of dissolving the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and replacing it with an association (the American College Sports Association), which would be overseen by the federal government.