Rep. Mace Calls On President Trump To Convene The Senate And End The DHS Shutdown
Article II, Section 3 grants the President authority to act
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Apr. 1, 2026) - Congresswoman Nancy Mace today called on President Trump to invoke his authority under Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution to convene the Senate until it fulfills its obligation to fund the Department of Homeland Security.
The ongoing DHS shutdown is the longest in American history, and it is happening during an elevated national threat environment. The Senate has chosen paralysis over its constitutional duty.
"When national security is on the line, walking away shouldn't be an option, yet the Senate did it anyway," said Rep. Mace. “Article II, Section 3 exists precisely for moments like this. The President has the authority to call the Senate back and he should use it.”
Article II, Section 3 grants the President authority to convene either or both houses of Congress in extraordinary circumstances. The longest DHS shutdown in history, during a period of heightened threat, is by any measure an extraordinary circumstance.
“Senator Thune and his colleagues have left our border agents, TSA and our homeland security apparatus in limbo,” Rep. Mace continued. “President Trump should convene the Senate today and keep them there until they fund every dollar of DHS.”
Rep. Mace called on Senate leadership to act immediately and urged the President to use every constitutional tool at his disposal to protect the American people.
“The Senate can take a recess when the country is safe. Right now, they need to do their jobs,” Rep. Mace added.
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