TSA and FEMA leaders are testifying today before the House Homeland Security Committee on how the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding lapse is affecting frontline operations and the department’s workforce, according to The Hill.
- What’s happening: A House Homeland Security Committee hearing features testimony from Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials on shutdown impacts, The Hill reported.
- Focus of testimony: The committee is examining operational disruptions and workforce effects tied to the DHS funding lapse, including how agencies are sustaining mission-critical work during a partial shutdown, according to The Hill.
- Why it matters to employees: The hearing centers on how the shutdown is affecting employees required to work without pay during the lapse and how agencies are managing staffing, readiness, and continuity of operations, The Hill reported.
- Where to watch: The Hill posted a live stream and video clip of the hearing here: https://thehill.com/video-clips/5799820-watch-live-dhs-officials-shutdown-house-homeland-security-committee/
- Committee involved: House Homeland Security Committee, per The Hill.
The hearing comes as DHS components continue operating under shutdown rules that typically require agencies to classify employees as “excepted” (working without pay until appropriations are enacted) or furloughed (not working). TSA screening operations and FEMA’s disaster response posture are among the most visible functions affected during a funding lapse, and lawmakers are pressing for details on staffing levels, mission impacts, and employee hardship, according to The Hill’s description of the session.
For federal employees and service members interacting with DHS services, the practical effects can include longer processing times, reduced administrative support, and increased strain on personnel who remain on duty. For DHS workers specifically, the testimony is expected to address how long agencies can sustain current operations, what functions are being deferred, and how leadership is communicating expectations to employees during the lapse, according to The Hill.
Employees tracking potential pay impacts during a shutdown can reference general shutdown pay rules and back pay requirements in FedBrief’s explainer (limited cross-link): https://fedbrief.org/ (navigate to shutdown/pay coverage).
Source: The Hill video clip, “Watch live: TSA, FEMA officials testify before House on impacts of DHS shutdown,” accessed March 28, 2026: https://thehill.com/video-clips/5799820-watch-live-dhs-officials-shutdown-house-homeland-security-committee/