An ISIS-linked gunman opened fire at Old Dominion University, but Virginia Democrats say the real failure happened elsewhere

A deadly shooting at Old Dominion University that federal authorities now consider an act of terrorism has reignited a political battle over national security funding. As reported by Fox News, the debate centers on whether the Department of Homeland Security should receive full funding without changes to immigration enforcement agencies.

The shooting took place on Thursday, March 12, 2026, when Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former Army National Guard member previously convicted of supporting ISIS, opened fire on campus. One person was killed, identified as Lt. Col. Brandon A. Shah, while two others were wounded before students subdued the attacker and prevented further casualties.

The attack has intensified arguments in Washington over whether security agencies have the resources they need. Republicans say the incident highlights why DHS must be fully funded immediately, particularly amid rising tensions tied to U.S. military operations in Iran.

Virginia Democrats say the problem lies elsewhere

Despite the attack, Virginia Democratic senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine have continued to push for reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection before supporting full DHS funding. Senate Republicans have warned that delays could weaken national security at a time of increasing threats, as war powers tensions rise around the administration’s broader posture overseas.

Kaine rejected the argument that Democrats are holding up security funding. He said Senate Democrats have repeatedly tried to fund agencies such as TSA, CISA, and the Coast Guard, while Republicans have blocked those proposals.

Warner said he was heartbroken by the killing of Lt. Col. Shah and praised the students who stopped the attacker. He also called for answers from FBI Director Kash Patel about how a previously convicted ISIS supporter was able to obtain a gun and carry out the attack, amid facial recognition errors and other questions about federal tracking failures.

Warner argued that recent leadership decisions inside the FBI may have contributed to the failure. He pointed to Patel’s firing of experienced agents and counterterrorism officials, saying the loss of experienced personnel raises concerns about whether the agency is less capable of stopping threats.

The debate has also included a separate case involving Abdul Jalloh, an illegal immigrant charged with the murder of Virginia resident Stephanie Minter. Lawmakers discussed the case while arguing over whether local authorities should cooperate more closely with immigration enforcement.

Kaine responded to criticism by questioning ICE’s handling of the suspect, saying the agency had multiple opportunities to detain him but released him. Warner also described Minter’s killing as a tragedy and said someone with dozens of arrests should not have remained in the country.