Juan Ciscomani Stresses Border Security Funding Ahead of Potential January 30 Shutdown​

WASHINGTON– As Congress races against a January 30th deadline to keep the government funded, Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) discussed federal border security spending and its impact on southern Arizona in an exclusive interview with Cactus Politics.

When asked about federal funding in the current continuing resolution that would impact Arizona, Ciscomani outlined significant allocations for border security.

"We had over about almost $60 million billion dollars set aside for the funding on the border," Ciscomani noted. "That included finishing the wall, that included radios for our agents, that included new vehicles, that included a lot of different tools here that our border agents were looking for, that included bonuses for keeping them, retention bonuses, hiring bonuses as well, raises for our border agents."

The funding is part of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill. The package addresses various equipment needs, recruitment incentives, and pay increases for border patrol personnel.

Ciscomani described conditions he has observed during visits to the border.

"I've been to the border with many of them many, many times. And the fact that they're that the cartels have better radios than our agents do. They have better vehicles than our agents do, all this cannot be," he stated.

The congressman said the new resources represent what he called "a shot in the arm" to agents, combined with what he described as changed enforcement guidance from the current administration.

Continued Resources

Ciscomani also addressed the mental health situation among border patrol agents in recent years.

"For about four years there they were just demoralized and they didn't feel appreciated. Suicide rates went up unfortunately with our border agents because of all the stress that they had and were going through," he said.

The congressman believes recent policy and funding changes have affected agent morale, saying he observed "a huge morale boost with our agents."

Ciscomani characterized the funding as part of a coordinated effort between the executive and legislative branches.

"This is a great partnership because [President Donald Trump] took action on the executive side with the orders and we took action with the funding in Congress," Ciscomani said. "That partnership is what was able to really not only secure the border now but actually give it a long-term benefit effect."

While border security funding moves forward, Congress faces broader challenges in meeting the January 30th deadline. Lawmakers have passed only three of the twelve appropriations bills needed to fund the government.

They must pass the remaining nine bills to keep the rest of the government running past the end of January. Without action, another government shutdown remains possible.