Much of the Department of Homeland Security, including ICE, will continue to operate. But delayed pay for TSA employees could spell trouble for travelers.
Democrats used government shutdown threat to spur negotiations over DHS funding
Lawmakers are at odds over government funding for DHS amid widespread discontent over the killing of Alex Preti by Border Patrol agents.
Funding for the Department of Homeland Security is set to expire, potentially threatening critical government services such as airport security and disaster relief.
Funding for the 9/11 Cabinet agency expired on Friday, February 13, as negotiations continue between Congressional Democrats and the White House over curbing immigration enforcement. With lawmakers going into a scheduled one-week recess and many members taking planned overseas trips, no agreement was in sight.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) vowed earlier this week that Democrats would not support funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unless it added guardrails for federal immigration agents.
“The Republican bill under consideration would allow ICE to break down doors without a warrant, wear masks so they can’t be identified, and use children as bait for their parents,” Schumer said in a video statement posted to social media on Feb. 12. “No oversight? We’re keeping our word. There will be no funding for ICE until the violence is quelled.”
Senate Minority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) said on Fox News on February 12 that he expected Democrats to reach a funding deal with the White House over the weekend.
“This is not just ICE. This is not just Border Patrol. This is FEMA. This is TSA. This is Coast Guard. This is cybersecurity. This bill covers a lot of things,” Thune said.
Many of DHS’ normal operations will continue during the closure, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. Nevertheless, the heads of some of the department’s most important departments warned lawmakers ahead of the recent funding shortfall that the consequences of a prolonged shutdown could be dire.
TSA
DHS has not released an updated contingency plan for the shutdown, but the majority of TSA’s more than 64,000 employees are normally required to continue working without pay.
TSA Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeil told lawmakers on February 11 that approximately 61,000 employees at more than 430 commercial airports will be affected by the new funding blunder, but the agency cannot afford to do it again.
“Some businesses are still recovering from the economic impact of the 43-day closure,” she said. “We can’t let them go through that again. It’s outrageous.”
Typically, prolonged closures result in sharp increases in TSA staffing and longer wait times in airport security lines.
coast guard
The Coast Guard, which normally falls under the jurisdiction of DHS, will be required to suspend missions that are not critical to national security or the protection of life and property.
“The closure is demoralizing,” Lt. Gen. Thomas Allan, acting deputy commander of the Coast Guard, said at a Feb. 11 Congressional hearing.
Alan told lawmakers that the closure could result in deferred maintenance and the loss of pay for 56,000 active-duty reserve officers and civilians.
FEMA
Most Federal Emergency Management Agency employees will also be working without pay. Greg Phillips, who heads FEMA, said on February 11 that the closure would “significantly disrupt” the agency’s ability to reimburse states for disaster relief costs.
He expressed concern that hurricane season is approaching.
“A federal government shutdown will have far-reaching and severe impacts on FEMA’s operations and the nation’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters,” he told lawmakers.
