Exclusive: The ongoing partial government shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may severely hinder local disaster response efforts, particularly without assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to public safety experts.
Jeffrey Halstead, who leads strategic accounts at Genesys—an organization that provides communication support during emergencies—expressed in an interview that the shutdown complicates emergency response and recovery, especially with FEMA’s assistance already stretched thin.
“When the government experiences a shutdown, portions of federal operations freeze. This affects grant reviews and the distribution of previously allocated funds. It’s primarily in the hands of DHS and FEMA, which directly impacts emergency managers and how regions cope with disasters,” Halstead noted.
Having served as a police chief in Fort Worth, Texas, and with three decades in law enforcement, Halstead emphasized that delays in federal funding have a noticeable effect on local responses to disasters.
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“I spent 21 years in Arizona, followed by seven as police chief in Texas, and then extensive work across various states in the West,” he shared. According to him, delays from the last government shutdown have halted grant applications, preventing approvals and fund allocations, which hampers essential planning for disaster responses. Certain core initiatives, like the Urban Area Security Initiative, rely on these grants to replace outdated equipment and fund necessary training to assure readiness for emergencies.
This situation comes after the Trump administration mandated FEMA to halt sending aid workers to disaster-stricken regions during the DHS shutdown.
More than 300 FEMA personnel ready for upcoming missions were instructed to cancel their travel. The entire grant system will remain non-operational until a budget deal is reached by lawmakers.
“The key issue here is funding—specifically, the flow of grants and coordinating resources and training vital for effective disaster preparedness,” Halstead stated.
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“If a significant weather event or incident arises requiring FEMA assistance, those resources might not be accessible,” he cautioned. “This adversely affects collaborative efforts among various governmental levels that need to mobilize swiftly to manage emergencies within hours. The lack of access hampers proper planning, training events, and response strategies based on past experiences.”
While some personnel engaged in large-scale recovery operations will remain active in the field until their missions conclude, new personnel deployments require DHS authorization.
Current recovery work is still ongoing in areas like North Carolina, where Hurricane Helen caused significant destruction in the fall of 2024.
Halstead mentioned that recovery is the final stage of crisis management, stating, “If recovery processes are impeded, some regions might struggle for years.” Such delays directly relate to issues within FEMA and the hold-ups in financial support necessary to finalize recovery efforts.
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When asked about the necessity of federal funding amid recent extreme weather, including snowstorms on the East Coast and floods in California, Halstead deemed it “very critical,” indicating that funding delays could jeopardize resident safety.
“It’s essential for emergency managers and various agencies to utilize resources efficiently for response planning and managing transitions to recovery. Delays can genuinely pose risks to community safety,” he elaborated.
Congress has yet to reach a consensus to conclude the partial shutdown, primarily due to Democrats seeking greater oversight of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—a stance Republicans oppose, notably following a recent shooting incident involving federal agents.
President Trump has attributed the situation to a “Democratic shutdown,” absolving the Republican Party of blame.
Halstead expressed a desire for lawmakers to negotiate effectively to lift the shutdown, allowing first responders to carry out their duties safely.
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“Many people are understandably frustrated as this situation exploits the significant political disputes surrounding the funding agreement that should have been resolved promptly,” he remarked. Halstead highlighted that shutdowns contribute to a backlog in processing grants, proposals, and overall federal expenditure, leading to extended delays before operations can resume.
He noted, “Lawmakers are still navigating deeply contentious issues, which hold up the approval and distribution of essential funds required for emergency managers and first responders to perform efficiently.”
Looking ahead, Halstead believes that a shutdown resolution is unlikely before the upcoming State of the Union address, regardless of whether it leads to continued delays in FEMA funding that could persist for weeks.
“It could take another couple of weeks at least to secure funds and reopen operations. There’s a significant amount of work that won’t get done anytime soon,” he concluded.
