Sheehy’s plan to defund Homeland Security would be disastrous

As one of the few Montana mayors near the northern border, I know what it means to keep our communities safe. When politicians start to talk about their plans for our border patrol agents and the security of our state, I pay attention.

That’s why when Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy recently called to defund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), it caught my attention. Anyone who has met with local officials and law enforcement in a border town — the southern and the northern — would understand what a catastrophic idea this is. The DHS is our nation’s first line of defense — without the DHS, we would not have any of the resources needed to secure the border. 

In Flathead Valley, our local governments and law enforcement agencies work hand-in-hand with our counterparts at the DHS. Sen. Jon Tester secured key resources for Flathead Valley through Operation Stonegarden Program, a grant funded by the DHS, which allowed Flathead County and Whitefish police departments to hire more police officers and fight drug trafficking.