Lt. Gen. Thomas Allan, acting deputy commander of the Coast Guard, told the House Appropriations Committee that the closure would have a negative impact on recruiting efforts.
Department of Homeland Security poised to shut down due to funding bill impasse
The United States is on the verge of another government shutdown. This time, only the Department of Homeland Security is at risk.
- Coast Guard leaders warned lawmakers that a government shutdown could hurt morale and hurt military families.
- Congress is deadlocked over immigration enforcement policies and faces a deadline for funding the Department of Homeland Security.
- The closure will affect multiple agencies, including the Coast Guard, ICE, FEMA, and TSA.
- In addition to disrupting paychecks, the closure could limit Coast Guard operations, worsen staffing shortages and delay ship inspections.
With the federal government on the brink of another shutdown, top Coast Guard officials this week begged lawmakers not to defund the Department of Homeland Security, warning that it would not only disrupt paychecks but also damage morale.
Lt. Gen. Thomas Allan, acting deputy commander of the Coast Guard, testified at a Feb. 11 House Appropriations Committee hearing that “shutdowns are demoralizing.” “A gunner’s officer carrying a weapon in the Strait of Hormuz does not have to worry about whether his family will be able to pay his rent while pursuing an Iranian vessel.
“Aviation survival technicians deploying from helicopters into dangerous oceans don’t have to worry about whether their families will be able to buy groceries this week,” Alan continued.
Allan’s comments came two days before Congress is set to strike a deal on homeland security funding. If lawmakers don’t act by midnight on February 13, DHS could enter a partial shutdown, wreaking havoc on disaster response, border security, and travel.
The closure could affect agencies such as the Coast Guard, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Transportation Security Administration.
The impasse has focused on immigration enforcement, with Democrats including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries continuing to push for stricter ICE warrant requirements, unmasking of federal agents, stricter use-of-force standards and a ban on immigration enforcement in “sensitive locations” such as schools and churches, among other demands.
But Senate Republican Leader John Thune of South Dakota has said he plans to introduce a short-term continuing resolution, but with no vote scheduled, there is little room for compromise.
Still, Senate Minority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) said Republicans were negotiating in good faith.
“The White House continues to demonstrate its determination to take its own action,” Thune said, referring to the Trump administration’s Feb. 12 decision to scale back immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota. “Democrats will never get everything on their wish list. That’s not going to work.”
The standoff is reminiscent of last year’s 43-day shutdown, the longest in U.S. history.
The closure may also limit some Coast Guard activities.
Allan reiterated that even though the Coast Guard continues to operate overseas with the military and handle other critical missions, the closure would not only result in the potential foreclosure of the salaries of 56,000 Coast Guard active duty, reserve and civilian members, but would also close DHS.
He also said that even a few days of closure would affect not only pay and morale, but also the Coast Guard’s ability to recruit and retain personnel, which is suffering from staffing shortages.
“This is not a distant administrative issue,” Allan said during his testimony. “The uncertainty of not being paid has a negative impact on readiness and creates significant financial hardship for service members and their families.”
“Ripple effects could cause delays in ship inspections, financing, and regulatory approvals, costing the U.S. economy billions of dollars each week,” Allan added, adding that this would lead to “higher prices for Americans everywhere.”
Homeland Security Secretary Christine Noem used funds from the Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” to pay for the Coast Guard during the last government shutdown, but it’s unclear whether a similar move will occur this year.
Looking for a solution, Alan was feeling anxious due to the uncertainty. “Short-term solutions will only provide temporary relief,” he added, adding that no member of the U.S. military “should be forced to live with this uncertainty from paycheck to paycheck.”
He hopes a long-term contract can be reached.
“The work our crews do is dangerous and challenging,” Alan said. “Our employees deserve the resources they need to perform their jobs safely and efficiently. These jobs require dedication, focus, and attention to detail.
Contributed by: Zachary Schermele, Bart Jansen, Zach Wichter, USA TODAY
