Amidst the flickering lights of Washington’s political theater, another curious episode unfolds—a partial government shutdown fashioned by the Democrats. This time, it seems they’ve set their sights on some of the most crucial components of national security and disaster relief. Just when you thought there couldn’t be any more twists in this partisan tug-of-war, here comes a plot that targets air travel, the Department of Homeland Security, the Coast Guard, FEMA, and even the Secret Service. Perhaps their next move will feature an interpretive dance number explaining the benefits of shutting down national safety networks during hurricane season.

To understand this legislative circus, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Christy Gnome attempts to lay out the absurdity of the situation. In a world where specifics often get tossed aside, some data can’t help but jar the senses. Last year alone, many Americans fell victim to crimes as serious as murder by individuals who were in the country illegally. The numbers paint a lurid picture of what can happen when enforcement protocols fall short and border security isn’t fully funded. Yet here we are, playing politics with Americans’ safety as if it’s just another episode of a reality TV show.

While the Department of Homeland Security works tirelessly to combat threats, criminal elements, and even cyber security breaches, they must now do it with one proverbial hand tied behind their back, courtesy of political machinations from across the aisle. The Coast Guard is intercepting boatloads of contraband that could decimate populations with its lethal impact, and yet, the funding debate rages on. According to this playbook, risking American lives seems justifiable if it scores a few political points with the so-called enlightened crowd.

It’s remarkable that amid this bureaucratic escapade, there persists a refusal to acknowledge the severity of threats that slip through porous borders daily. With potential terrorists being given the red-carpet treatment at America’s front door, it’s clear why some sleep with one eye open. They don’t even have accurate figures on how many unvetted individuals have entered—a misstep that has consequences far beyond filibusters and campaign slogans.

So, what’s the takeaway? By slashing resources for key agencies like the TSA, ICE, and FEMA, Democrats appear to gamble with the nation’s security and resilience. It’s almost as if they forgot that natural disasters don’t take a political affiliation. But fear not, they might say, because should an avalanche hit, there will still be enough taxpayer dollars for a government study on the impact of snowflakes—just not the kind falling from the sky. Here’s to hoping rationality prevails, not just for the sake of policy, but for the simple reason that safety should never be a pawn in the chess game of politics.