Speaking to a capacity crowd in Huntsville on Friday, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt delivered a strongly worded message criticizing Senate Democrats over stalled Homeland Security funding while highlighting federal wins for North Alabama.  

Speaking at a Washington Update hosted by the Huntsville Madison County Chamber at Von Braun Center, Britt defended the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill, blaming Democrats for walking away from negotiations and risking a partial shutdown.

Britt, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, said Republicans agreed to a two-week continuing resolution at Democrats’ request in an effort to continue negotiations.

“Unfortunately, this is yet another example of Democrats walking away from the table and politics being in play,” she said.

She warned that without action, frontline DHS employees, including TSA officers, Coast Guard members, Secret Service agents and immigration enforcement officers, could miss paychecks.

“That means that TSA, that means men and women in Coast Guard, that means our men and women at Secret Service, that means our men and women of ICE, that means our men and women of HSI, will not be receiving a paycheck,” she said, calling the situation absolutely unacceptable.

Britt said she remains committed to finding a bipartisan solution but accused Democrats of playing politics instead of negotiating in good faith.

When speaking with reporters after the event, Britt was asked about Huntsville residents urging city leaders not to cooperate with ICE. 

“We have to stand shoulder to shoulder with our law enforcement officers,” Britt said, adding that local and federal officials “have got to work in cooperation” to remove “criminal illegal aliens” and individuals with final orders of removal.

Space Command: ‘We’re going to make sure it’s permanent’

Turning to defense priorities, Britt celebrated the relocation of U.S. Space Command to Huntsville, crediting the Alabama delegation and House Armed Services Chairman Mike Rogers for helping secure the move.

She said she recently met with Defense leaders and received assurances that 50% of Space Command personnel will be relocated to Alabama by the end of 2028.

Britt said outreach efforts are planned to encourage personnel to relocate, including “traveling town halls to Colorado and other places,” adding, “We believe if people just come to Alabama and take a look at it, there’s no doubt they’re going to fall in love with it.”

She also highlighted commitments from NASA leadership, including NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, that Marshall Space Flight Center will remain the “center of excellence for propulsion” and pointed to billions in federal funding tied to space and defense initiatives.

Appropriations: ‘If you send it up there, it’s my job to make sure it comes home’

Britt emphasized her role on the Senate Appropriations Committee, noting that Congress has passed 11 of 12 appropriations bills this cycle (minus the DHS bill), a departure from the frequent continuing resolutions of recent years.

She detailed more than $25 million in directly secured funding for North Alabama projects, including:

• Funding for Redstone Arsenal military construction
• $2 million for the Sparkman Drive Bridge replacement
• $10 million for artificial intelligence research infrastructure at The University of Alabama in Huntsville  
• More than $1.3 billion for the Space Launch System at Marshall Space Flight Center

“I believe two things,” Britt said. “Number one, that if you send it up there, it should come home and it’s my job to make sure that happens. And also that we have got to be fiscally responsible.”

Safeguarding children from social media

Britt closed with what she called a “mom moment,” raising concerns about social media’s impact on children and teens.

She cited rising rates of depression and suicide attempts among young people and warned about dangers including online sextortion, fentanyl-laced pills sold through social platforms, and artificial intelligence chatbots interacting with minors.

“I am an outspoken advocate for our children,” Britt said, referencing bipartisan legislation she is working on to establish guardrails for AI and social media platforms.

‘An honor of a lifetime’

Britt concluded by reflecting on her role representing Alabama in the U.S. Senate.

“It’s an honor of a lifetime,” she said. “Outside of being a wife and a mom, I cannot imagine a more humbling and incredible experience.”

She pledged to continue partnering with local leaders to advance economic development and national security priorities important to North Alabama.

Britt was elected to the U.S. Senate on November 8, 2022, and officially took office on January 3, 2023. She represents Alabama, becoming the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from the state and the youngest Republican woman ever elected to the chamber.