'We have to be able to walk and chew gum' on government spending, says budget chairman, addressing debt crisis and national security.

The article focuses on the challenges faced by the U.S. government in funding mandatory programs and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) amid ongoing military engagements and budgetary disputes in Congress. House Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington, a Texas Republican, advocates using the budget reconciliation process—a procedure allowing a simple majority vote—to secure DHS funding and avoid selective department shutdowns. Democrats oppose funding DHS without reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol, citing concerns heightened by recent protests and incidents. Arrington also calls for constitutional fiscal reforms to address the national debt and suggests leveraging savings from cracking down on fraudulent claims to support current and future government spending. [Extracted from the article]