New York Representative Joseph Morelle Talks Homeland Security Spending

Summary

---

Bloomberg Talks

Episode: New York Representative Joseph Morelle Talks Homeland Security Spending

Date: February 10, 2026
Host: Karen Moscow and Nathan Hager
Guest: Congressman Joe Morelli (D-NY)

---

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the heightened debate in Congress over election security, federal funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and significant recent incidents involving ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Representative Joe Morelli, Democrat from New York and ranking member of the House Administration Committee, shares his responses to Republican efforts to revamp election laws and provides insight into Democratic demands for reforms to ICE. The discussion also touches on funding negotiations, recent controversies, and potential legislative tactics as a DHS shutdown looms.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Debate Over Election Security Legislation

• Background: Republican lawmakers, led by Congressman Brian Stile, advocate for the MEGA Act requiring voter photo ID and standardized practices nationwide (01:08).

• Morelli's Response:

  • No Evidence of Widespread Fraud: Morelli argues the integrity of American elections is already well maintained and sees the Republican push as misdirection and a political maneuver to nationalize elections (01:53).
  • Privacy Concerns: He expresses strong opposition to handing voter data to DHS, especially under the current administration (02:40).

  Quote:

  "I don't know of anybody in America who thinks it's a good idea to give Secretary Noem access to private information that you supply when you register to vote."
  — Joe Morelli (02:35)

• Republican Claims on Noncitizen Voting:

  • Morelli rebuts allegations by President Trump that Democrats want “illegal aliens” to vote. He underscores the lack of evidence for noncitizen voting and criticizes ongoing claims as attempts to undermine public trust (03:21).

  Quote:

  "Whenever you ask Republicans, could you provide evidence that noncitizens are voting? No, we just have a feel. Can you provide evidence that there's widespread voter fraud? No, it's just a feeling we have. So, you know, look, these are solutions in search of problems."
  — Joe Morelli (03:56)

2. ICE Practices and Democratic Reform Demands

• Trigger Events: High-profile deaths of Renee Goode and Alex Preddy during ICE operations in Minnesota have fueled demands for ICE reform (04:35).

• Democratic Reform Proposals:

  • Transparency & Accountability:
    • No masks for agents; officers should have visible badges and body cameras.
    • Requirement for ICE to obtain judicial warrants for home searches, in line with constitutional protections.
  • Consistency with Local Law Enforcement: These demands mirror standard expectations for police nationwide (05:17).

  Quote:

  "These are fundamental rights which ICE is trying to take away in violation of the Constitution. We simply want to have the same kind of rules for ICE that you would have for any member of a local police force anywhere in the United States."
  — Joe Morelli (05:56)

• Republican Opposition:

  • GOP lawmakers argue that requiring agents to be identified would expose them to harassment and doxing. Morelli counters this, referencing the public nature of local law enforcement operations (06:09).

  Quote:

  "Every police officer in America goes unmasked in communities where they live. ... The truth is this is just a way to intimidate people. It's a way to hide your identity. Frankly, I think it's dangerous..."
  — Joe Morelli (06:38)

3. Homeland Security Funding Negotiations & Shutdown Threat

• DHS Budget Dynamics:

  • ICE funding is already secure through previous legislation, but funding for other critical DHS agencies, including FEMA, TSA, and the Coast Guard, is tied to current negotiations (07:28).
  • Morelli suggests funding these other agencies independently while ICE reforms are debated, arguing it is "entirely appropriate" (07:56).

  Quote:

  "Why would they use ICE which doesn't need the funding to hold hostage the folks that do — transit agents at TSA or the Coast Guard, for God's sake, the Coast Guard. You're going to defund the Coast Guard?"
  — Joe Morelli (08:00)

• Possible Legislative Solutions:

  • When asked about procedural options, Morelli proposes a simple solution: zero out ICE funding in the appropriations bill given their prior allocation and continue funding the rest of DHS (09:27).
  • Indicates Democratic leadership, specifically Hakeem Jeffries, would likely support this approach (09:45).

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Voter Confidence and Data Privacy:

  "I don't know of anybody in America who thinks it's a good idea to give Secretary Noem access to private information that you supply when you register to vote."
  — Joe Morelli (02:35)

• On the Lack of Evidence for Noncitizen Voting:

  "Could you provide evidence that noncitizens are voting? No, we just have a feel. ... These are solutions in search of problems."
  — Joe Morelli (03:56)

• On ICE Reform Basics:

  "No masks. You can see a police officer. They should have a badge. They should have body cameras."
  — Joe Morelli (05:29)

• On Masked ICE Agents:

  "Every police officer in America goes unmasked... This is just a way to intimidate people. It's a way to hide your identity."
  — Joe Morelli (06:38)

• On Separate Agency Funding:

  "Let's fund these other things. It's entirely appropriate while we continue to work towards trying to find common ground about the way ICE agents act out and when they're engaging the American public."
  — Joe Morelli (08:11)

---

Important Timestamps

• Republican argument for photo ID and election security: 01:08
• Joe Morelli's response and privacy concerns: 01:53–03:05
• Debate over noncitizen voting and fraud claims: 03:21–04:35
• ICE controversy and Democrat reform proposals: 04:35–06:09
• Republican pushback on demasking ICE agents: 06:09–07:28
• DHS funding strategy and legislative tactics: 07:28–09:50

---

Tone & Style

Congressman Morelli speaks in a direct and urgent tone, often highlighting constitutional values and the real-world impacts of current policy and funding debates. His language is impassioned when addressing civil liberties, transparency, and what he views as the politicization of election security. The hosts maintain a neutral, probing tone, encouraging clarity and detail.

---

Summary Takeaway

This episode provides a rich look at how election security debates and recent ICE controversies are shaping national funding negotiations and political narratives. Representative Joe Morelli critiques Republican proposals as unnecessary and distracting, calls for significant reforms in ICE operations after citizen deaths, and proposes pragmatic funding solutions amid the threat of a DHS shutdown. The conversation exemplifies the current polarization in Congress and the search for compromise amid multiple, intersecting crises.

Transcript

[Apple Card Announcer]

This message is brought to you by Apple Card. It's a great time to apply for an Apple Card. You'll love earning unlimited daily cash on every Purchase. That includes 3% daily cash when you buy the latest iPhone, AirPods and Apple. Watch at Apple through this special referral offer. When you get a new Apple Card, you can earn bonus daily cash. To qualify, you must apply at Apple Co getdailycash Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City Branch offer may not be available elsewhere. Terms and limitations apply. Bloomberg Audio Studios Podcasts Radio News as.

[Karen Moscow]

We consider how they vote and the actual mechanisms through which people can vote, what they would need to provide to be able to exercise that key element of democracy. That is something that is the subject of debate right now on Capitol Hill as Republican lawmakers are pushing various pieces of legislation intended, as they say, to improve the integrity of elections in America. One such effort is being spearheaded by Congressman Brian Stile of Wisconsin, the chair of the House Administration Committee, who introduced the MEGA act and talked to us about what it's intended to achieve earlier this hour.

[Congressman Brian Stile]

I think it's common sense that we should require, for example, photo identification when an individual goes to the polls. I have to do that. If you want to board an airplane, you want to open a bank account, or heck, you want to buy a six pack of beer, you need to show photo identification. So it's common sense. It's popular. This is far from the takeover argument that some are attempting to make. It's putting in baseline standards so that all Americans have confidence our election are being run accurately and fairly.

[Karen Moscow]

That's the chair of the House Administration Committee. We now turn to its ranking member, Congressman Joe Morelli. The Democrat from New York is here with us now on Bloomberg TV and radio. So you just heard your colleague's argument there. Congressman, we appreciate you joining us. What is your response?

[Congressman Joe Morelli]

Well, thanks for having me. Well, it would be one thing if there was any degree of lack of confidence by Americans or there was evidence of fraud in America. None of that is true. Actually, elections come off very well. Local and state election officials do elections incredibly well. What this is really is the chaos and recklessness of the Trump administration, who the president knows. The American people are very, very frustrated and angry. What's happening with the Department of Homeland Security and ice on our city streets. They're very concerned about the lack of affordability and how badly this economy is going. 70% of Americans think the economy is in worse direction than it was when Donald Trump became president. This is really A misdirection. It's a way, as the President has said. He says the quiet part out loud, a way to seize American elections, to nationalize them, take that power away from the states and give voter data to the Department of Homeland Security. I don't know of anybody in America who thinks it's a good idea to give Secretary Noem access to private information that you supply when you register to vote. So I understand what my colleagues are saying, but this is really a misdirection play, and it's very, very frightening because Americans don't want their election and their midterms taken away from them.

[Nathan Hager]

Well, Democrats are not on board here. Right. So I'm assuming this would have trouble passing the Senate when it comes to getting 60 votes. But how would you respond to what else President Trump would say, that Democrats want illegal aliens to vote because they vote Democratic.

[Congressman Joe Morelli]

Well, look, the president has said this for years. He even said that Minnesota, which is very much in the news these days, and they tried to blackmail Minnesota into giving them the voter file for the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security. The president famously said, I won Minnesota three times. I never get credit for it. The truth is, the president denies election results. He's done it around the 2020 election so far as having his head of national intelligence go at the direction of the Department of Justice to seize ballots from the 2020 election five years ago. It's like, get over it, Mr. President. Illegal people who are not registered to vote, who are not American citizens, don't vote in American elections, against the law, and it's a felony if you try to vote. So whenever you ask Republicans, could you provide evidence that noncitizens are voting? No, we just have a feel. Can you provide evidence that there's widespread voter fraud? No, it's just a feeling we have. So, you know, look, these are solutions in search of problems. American elections are secure. Trying to suggest they're not is only shaking the confidence. Trying to shake the confidence of American voters. We're not going to tolerate it, and we're certainly not going to let Donald Trump try to nationalize elections and take them for his zone in 2026 in advance of the midterm elections.

[Karen Moscow]

Well, Congressman, you point at Minnesota as an example of where we're seeing this election debate. Obviously very heated. But Minnesota, of course, has captured our attention for other reasons, including, of course, the deaths of Renee Goode and Alex Preddy at the hands of ICE officers. That is why Democrats are now demanding reforms to ICE 10 is what your leadership was seeking 10 changes that they would like to see in order to continue funding the Department of of Homeland Security. We understand the White House issued. Republicans issued a response. Your leader, Hakeem Jeffries has described that counter as woefully inadequate. What is the minimum bar for you, sir, as to what reforms would be adequate, where compromise could be found?

[Congressman Joe Morelli]

Yeah, I don't think it's just Democrats. I think the American public has real concerns and they've seen this unfold in videos in front of their eyes and they can see what's happening in Minnesota. They also see that the Department of Homeland Security and the President continue to misrepresent what's in those videos. Calling people domestic terrorists who are peacefully protesting as is their right under the Constitution. I think the very minimum ICE agents ought to act the same way that law enforcement does all around this country. No masks. You can see a police officer. They should have a badge. They should have body cameras. These they should have to get. If they're going to search your home, they need to get a judicial warrant. That's embodied in the United States Constitution. These are fundamental rights which ICE is trying to take away in violation of the Constitution. We simply want to have the same kind of rules for ICE that you would have for any member of a local police force anywhere in the United States.

[Nathan Hager]

We've talked to a number of Republican lawmakers about this demasking issue and the identification issue, Congressman, and they are dug in on this. This is a deal breaker and a non starter. And they point to the doxing and identifying and harassment of these ICE agents and their families. How do we continue the conversation from there? Because that's where the breakdown happens. What do you tell your Republican colleagues when you're not on camera and you're talking about issues in the cloakroom or a dinner?

[Congressman Joe Morelli]

Well, look at Every police officer in America goes unmasked in communities where they live. So if there was people were going to be targeted, it would be your local law enforcement who lives in the same community that they do public safety in. The truth is this is just a way to intimidate people. It's a way to hide your identity. Frankly, I think it's dangerous for ICE officials and ICE agents as well as certainly and most importantly dangerous for residents of our community. So it's a basic fundamental thing that we've had since the birth of this republic 250 years ago. These basic rules need to be followed. And we don't do it for FBI officials, we don't do it for local law. Enforcement officials.

[Karen Moscow]

We do it.

[Congressman Joe Morelli]

We don't do it for anyone in law enforcement. Why would we do it for ICE agents who are now swarming our streets all over this country?

[Karen Moscow]

Well, of course, as we consider the funding that backs those agents, Congressman, that was provided a great deal of it in the one big beautiful bill act which already passed, it isn't necessary for DHS funding to be passed on Friday for that to continue. What it is necessary to continue fema, TSA does rely on DHS not shutting down. That is an argument your Republican colleagues are making. Why is it worth it to shut down DHS if it isn't necessarily going to impact ICE directly?

[Congressman Joe Morelli]

Well, what I would say is, if that's the case, and I think you're right, it is. ICE doesn't need the money. So why not fund the Coast Guard? Why not fund tsa? Why not fund fema? We could do all of that and not fund ICE as we continue to negotiate. Because as you point out, ICE already has the money they need. So why would they use ICE which doesn't need the funding to hold hostage the folks that do transit agents at TSS or TSA or the Coast Guard, for God's sake, the Coast Guard. You're going to defund the Coast Guard. So let's fund these other things. It's entirely appropriate while we continue to work towards trying to find common ground about the way ICE agents act out and when they're engaging the American public. And be certain of this, Americans are very unhappy with ice. It's very unpopular because they've seen two American citizens, these weren't so called non documented people. Two American citizens are dead within the last three weeks at the hands of federal agents. That's why Americans are so angry and that's why they're with us on the question of how to reform ICE so that it represents the values of the American people.

[Nathan Hager]

Well, you're not just ranking member on the Admin Committee, Congressman, you're vice ranking member on the Appropriations Committee. How would that happen? I hate to warn you, we only have a little more than a minute left. Can you actually take ICE funding from the rest of that bill and essentially siphon that off from the rest. Would you have to create a whole new funding bill just for that department or how would it work?

[Congressman Joe Morelli]

Yeah, maybe just put in the appropriation bill that's in front of the House, strip out the ICE funding and zero it out because it has funding under the other bill. So you can do this. It would take. No, imagine get that done by Friday activity. Yeah, sure.

[Nathan Hager]

So then we don't shut down. Does Hakeem Jeffries support that?

[Congressman Joe Morelli]

Well, you'd have to ask him, but I'm pretty sure he'd be very happy if we did that. Yes.

[Nathan Hager]

I'm just listening to you talk to Kelly. I think we might have just figured.

[Karen Moscow]

This out four days in advance. See that of a deadline in Washington. I don't know, Joe.

[Nathan Hager]

So, Congressman, thank you for being with us. Yeah, exactly right. Joe Morelli from New York, 24th district. That's up around Rochester, where I bet it's awfully cold today. And we appreciate the insights, Congressman.

[Karen Moscow]

Bloomberg Daybreak is your best way to get informed first thing in the morning, right in your podcast feed. Hi, I'm Karen Moscow.

[Nathan Hager]

And I'm Nathan Hager. Each morning we're up early putting together the latest episode of Bloomberg Daybreak US Edition. It's your daily 15 minute podcast on the latest in global news, politics and international relations.

[Karen Moscow]

Listen to the Bloomberg Daybreak US Edition podcast each morning for the stories that matter with the context you need.

[Nathan Hager]

Find us on Apple, Spotify, or anywhere you listen.