Overview
- Democrats on the Appropriations Committee reinstated Henry Cuellar as ranking member of the Homeland Security panel in a secret ballot that multiple reports said was 17–7, with others present or recused.
- The subcommittee oversees more than $65 billion for DHS agencies, including Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
- Cuellar relinquished the leadership role in 2024 after an indictment alleging nearly $600,000 in bribes; President Trump’s Dec. 3 pardon cleared the charges and made him eligible to return under caucus rules.
- House leaders argued the decision follows the rules, while several Democrats expressed unease about restoring a member previously accused of bribery to a key funding position.
- Cuellar is running for reelection as a Democrat in a district redrawn to favor Republicans as GOP-backed Webb County Judge Tano Tijerina challenges him and Trump publicly criticizes his decision to stay in the party.