Sen. Tim Kaine told "Face the Nation" that embassy security has been increased after an explosion near the U.S. Embassy in Oslo and that "thousands and thousands" of Americans remain in the Middle East. He urged Congress to immediately fund DHS components such as TSA, the Coast Guard, FEMA and CISA while confining reform talks to ICE and CBP, which he says were funded last summer. Kaine warned about Stephen Miller's influence on immigration policy, expressed regret for voting to confirm Secretary Noem, and said he will scrutinize any Pentagon supplemental request against his goals to stop the war and protect U.S. troops.
Sen. Tim Kaine on Oslo Embassy Explosion, Thousands Stranded, and the DHS Funding Standoff
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) spoke with Margaret Brennan on "Face the Nation" about heightened embassy security after an explosion near the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, the long-running fight over Department of Homeland Security funding, and rising tensions in the Middle East.
Embassy Security and Americans Abroad
Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said U.S. missions worldwide have increased security following recent incidents and credible threats. He described conversations with State Department personnel and noted that some embassies and consulates have experienced protests that escalated toward violence.
"We owe it to our brave professionals wherever they are, and our citizens, to keep them safe," Kaine said, adding that the arrival of the first American casualties back home — including a Virginian — raises serious concerns about lessons learned from decades of conflict in the region.
He estimated "thousands and thousands" of Americans remain in the region, though he acknowledged many choose to stay. Kaine also expressed particular concern about career embassy and consular staff who have not been ordered to return despite thin security at some posts. His office has assisted individual Virginians returning home, he said.
Partial DHS Shutdown: Funding Strategy
Kaine criticized Republican refusal to separate funding for most DHS components from ongoing ICE and CBP reform talks. He urged Congress to pass funding for TSA, the Coast Guard, FEMA, CISA and the Secret Service immediately while confining the immigration reform debate to ICE and CBP.
"Let's fund TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard and CISA — we've agreed on those bills. Then let's have a focused conversation about reforms for ICE and CBP," Kaine said, arguing that the two agencies were funded last summer and are not on the immediate brink of collapse.
He warned that a piecemeal shutdown leaving some frontline workers unpaid while immigration agencies remain funded is both politically and operationally problematic during a heightened threat environment.
Immigration Leadership and Oversight
Asked about the recent departure of Secretary Noem, Kaine said he regretted his confirmation vote and described a troubling power dynamic inside the department. He warned that Stephen Miller's influence over immigration policy keeps the agency "rogue" unless Congress demands structural reforms.
Kaine said prospective nominees such as Sen. Markwayne Mullin could persuade him if they demonstrate independence and commit to concrete reforms: judicial warrants for home entries, body cameras, clear accountability measures, and practices that align federal agents with local-law-enforcement norms.
War, Supplemental Funding, and Protecting Troops
As a member of the Armed Services Committee, Kaine said he has been briefed on whether the administration will request a supplemental appropriation to fund U.S. operations in the Middle East but that no decision had been made. He reiterated two priorities should a supplemental arrive in Congress: stop the war and protect U.S. troops.
"If a supplemental comes over, I'm going to look to see how it squares with those goals," Kaine said, calling the current conflict "illegal and profoundly unwise" and warning against exposing troops to unnecessary risk.
He suggested the administration may delay a supplemental to avoid a congressional debate or vote on war powers, and said he will continue to press for oversight and discussion in the Senate despite a recent failed war-powers vote.
Americans Detained in Iran
Kaine expressed deep concern for U.S. citizens held in Iran's Evin Prison, naming journalist Reza Valizadeh and 70-year-old Kamran Hekmati. He said he does not have detailed information about protections for detainees and fears for their safety amid escalating violence in the region.
Bottom line: Kaine pressed for immediate funding for non-immigration DHS components, demanded concrete ICE/CBP reforms, called for stronger protections for diplomats and Americans abroad, and said he will carefully review any Pentagon supplemental request against goals to end the war and safeguard troops.
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