DHS officials are warning that the ongoing government shutdown is rapidly building operational backlogs across the department, with early impacts already showing up in Coast Guard finances, stalled cyber planning at CISA, and grounded aircraft at Customs and Border Protection (CBP), according to Federal News Network reporting published in April 2026.
- Coast Guard: DHS officials told Federal News Network the shutdown has left the Coast Guard unable to pay some utility bills, creating a growing backlog of unpaid obligations that could affect base and facility operations the longer the funding lapse continues.
- CISA: Officials said the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency is seeing cyber planning and related work stall during the shutdown, potentially slowing coordination and preparedness activities that rely on funded staff time and contract support.
- CBP aviation: DHS officials said CBP aircraft have been grounded as shutdown-related constraints ripple into maintenance and operational readiness, adding to a backlog that may take time to unwind even after appropriations resume.
- Department-wide: DHS officials warned the longer the shutdown lasts, the more backlogs will accumulate and the harder it will be to restore normal service levels and mission readiness once funding is restored.
Brief context
During a funding lapse, agencies operate under shutdown contingency plans that keep “excepted” functions running but pause many activities that require current-year appropriations. DHS officials told Federal News Network that even where frontline operations continue, delayed payments, paused planning, and deferred maintenance can create downstream impacts that compound over time.
The Coast Guard is often highlighted in shutdown planning because, unlike the military services funded through the Department of Defense, it falls under DHS appropriations—making it more directly exposed to DHS funding gaps. Meanwhile, CISA’s work depends heavily on continuity of planning, coordination, and contracted support. For CBP, aviation readiness can be especially sensitive to maintenance timelines, parts availability, and vendor support—areas that can be disrupted when funding is uncertain or delayed.
For federal employees and service members, these kinds of backlogs can translate into longer processing times, deferred services, and a slower return to normal operations after the shutdown ends. Employees in affected components may also see shifting priorities toward backlog reduction once funding resumes, with non-urgent work delayed further as agencies focus on restoring core capabilities.
Source: Federal News Network, “DHS officials warn shutdown is creating Coast Guard, CISA, and CBP backlogs” (April 2026), https://federalnewsnetwork.com/government-shutdown/2026/04/dhs-officials-warn-about-growing-shutdown-backlogs/