DHS funding is set to lapse when a short-term measure expires Friday, raising the prospect of a partial government shutdown that would keep many homeland security and law enforcement operations running—but could still trigger furloughs and service disruptions across DHS components, according to The Hill.
- Border and law enforcement operations would largely continue. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities tied to border security and law enforcement are generally treated as “excepted” functions during a shutdown, The Hill reported.
- TSA screening would continue, but pay issues can hit the workforce. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers typically remain on duty as “excepted” employees during shutdowns; they may be required to work even if pay is delayed until appropriations are restored, according to The Hill.
- FEMA disaster response can continue for immediate threats, but other work may pause. The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s life-safety and immediate disaster response activities are generally prioritized, while other functions may be slowed or deferred depending on available funding and shutdown guidance, The Hill reported.
- Some DHS offices could furlough non-excepted staff. Employees whose work is not deemed necessary for the protection of life or property may be furloughed if funding lapses, according to The Hill.
- Public-facing services may be uneven. While core security missions continue, administrative support, training, certain procurement actions, and other internal functions can be curtailed, contributing to delays and backlogs, The Hill reported.
Brief context
The potential disruption stems from DHS operating under short-term funding that expires Friday. If Congress and the White House do not enact new appropriations or another continuing resolution, DHS would shift to shutdown operations plans that determine which roles are “excepted” and which are furloughed, according to The Hill. In past shutdowns, DHS has kept frontline security and law enforcement personnel on the job while limiting other activities, with impacts varying by component and the duration of the funding lapse.
For employees, the immediate question is whether your position is designated “excepted.” Excepted employees generally must report to duty and continue working, while furloughed employees are placed in a non-duty, non-pay status for the shutdown period. Agencies typically issue component-level guidance and supervisor notifications as a lapse approaches. For broader shutdown rules affecting federal pay and leave, see FedBrief’s shutdown explainer: https://fedbrief.org/.
Source: The Hill — “Here’s how a shutdown will affect DHS agencies” (https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5734644-heres-how-a-shutdown-will-affect-dhs-agencies/)