NBC Host Confronts Sen. Schiff on DHS Shutdown Amid Terror Threats

Kristen Welker grills Democrat senator over Democrats' role in partial government shutdown of Homeland Security.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 8:20pm

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NBC host Kristen Welker confronted Democratic Senator Adam Schiff on live TV over the Democrats' role in keeping the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) partially shut down for nearly a month, despite rising fears of terrorist attacks inside the United States. Welker pressed Schiff on whether it was responsible for Democrats to hold up DHS funding with the threat of terror attacks looming.

Why it matters

The partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security has raised concerns about national security and aviation safety, with the CEOs of major airlines and cargo carriers urging Congress to resolve the issue. Recent terror attacks in Michigan and Virginia have further heightened these concerns.

The details

Welker questioned Schiff about the Democrats' role in the DHS shutdown, noting the recent terror attacks in West Bloomfield, Michigan, and Norfolk, Virginia, as well as the letter from airline and cargo CEOs warning about the impact on national security and aviation safety. Schiff responded by blaming the Republicans for voting down Democratic resolutions to reopen the agencies and fund them.

  • The DHS has been partially shut down for nearly a month.
  • This week, the FBI confirmed two terror attacks: a car-ramming assault on a synagogue in Michigan and a shooting rampage at a university in Virginia.

The players

Kristen Welker

An NBC news host who confronted Senator Adam Schiff on live TV about the Democrats' role in the DHS shutdown.

Adam Schiff

A Democratic senator from California who was questioned by Welker about the Democrats' responsibility in the DHS shutdown.

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What they’re saying

“Is it responsible for Democrats to hold up DHS funding with the threat of terror attacks looming?”

— Kristen Welker, NBC News Host

“We offered vote after vote, resolution after resolution — even as recently as this week — to reopen those agencies and fund them, and the Republicans voted it down.”

— Adam Schiff, U.S. Senator

The takeaway

This confrontation highlights the partisan divide over the DHS shutdown, with Democrats blaming Republicans and Republicans likely blaming Democrats. The threat of terror attacks and the impact on national security and aviation safety have added urgency to resolving the impasse, but the political blame game continues.