Saturday night’s attempted assassination of elected officials was a vile attack on our democracy and a chilling reminder that reckless rhetoric and political violence can have deadly consequences. Every leader, regardless of party, should condemn it clearly and without hesitation. It is also a reminder that we are living through a dangerous moment — one that demands seriousness, responsibility, and leadership.

America faces serious threats abroad, rising instability at home, and a political climate that has become dangerously overheated. We are in an active conflict with Iran. Terror threats remain elevated. Border security is critical. Yet instead of coming together to address these challenges, Democrat leadership continues to play political games with funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

That needs to end now.

The Department of Homeland Security is not an abstract Washington agency. It protects our borders, secures our airports and ports, combats cyberattacks, prevents terrorism, and supports the men and women who stand between American families and those who wish to do us harm. At a time of heightened threats, delaying or weakening DHS funding is not a strategy; it is negligence.

And yet House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, and other Democrat leaders continue to prioritize partisan warfare over public safety.

Last week, Jeffries stood before cameras and called for “maximum warfare” against Republicans. Words matter. When national leaders use the language of war to describe fellow Americans and political opponents, they pour fuel on an already volatile environment. In a time when passions are high and violence has now spilled into a third assassination attempt of President Donald Trump, that kind of rhetoric is reckless and irresponsible.

This did not happen in a vacuum.

For years, too many voices on the left have normalized intimidation and hostility when directed at conservatives. Americans have watched as elected officials have encouraged activists to confront their opponents in public. We have seen mobs harass administration officials at restaurants and airports. We saw protests outside the private homes of Supreme Court justices. We have seen repeated efforts to demonize and attack Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents who risk their lives enforcing the law.

Too often, Democrat leaders are silent when the rhetoric comes from their own side.

At the same time, many of these same leaders continue to oppose meaningful border enforcement, resist interior immigration enforcement, and attack the very agencies charged with protecting the homeland. That sends a dangerous message to both our adversaries overseas and criminals exploiting weakness at home.

The American people deserve better than performative outrage and partisan obstruction. They deserve leaders who recognize reality: we live in a dangerous world, and national security cannot be treated as leverage.

This should not be difficult. If you claim to care about democracy, fund the agency that protects it. If you claim to care about working families, fund the agency that secures the communities they depend on. If you claim to oppose violence, condemn reckless rhetoric no matter which party it comes from.

Love America more than you hate this president. Love America more than you hate Republicans. Love America enough to put security ahead of spite and country ahead of politics.

Congress must fully fund DHS now. No delays. No excuses. No more games while the country faces real danger.

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Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne represents the 24th Congressional District of Texas, which includes portions of Dallas and Tarrant counties.

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Fund DHS Now: Stop The Political Games And Protect America