Partial Government Shutdown Looms After Senate Vote

On Thursday afternoon, the possibility of a partial government shutdown became more likely after Senate Democrats turned down a Republican plan to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

This shutdown, however, won’t mirror the lengthy 43-day halt that severely impacted Congress last year or the brief four-day pause from earlier this month. Most of the government, about 97%, has already been funded until the end of the fiscal year in 2026, which ends on September 30.

When the clock strikes midnight on Saturday, February 14, only the DHS will feel the impact of the funding expiration. While it’s on a smaller scale compared to past fiscal conflicts, the shutdown will still influence a wide array of operations due to the DHS’s extensive responsibilities.

Negotiations Stalemated; Democrats Choose Partial Shutdown

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

The TSA, which manages security at roughly 440 airports nationwide, may experience the most significant disruption in daily life for Americans. Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeil informed lawmakers during a hearing that around 95% of TSA’s staff—about 61,000 employees—are deemed essential and would be expected to work without pay if a shutdown occurs.

Many TSA personnel are still recovering from the previous lengthy shutdown. McNeil shared concerning reports of staff members resorting to sleeping in cars to save on gas, selling plasma, and juggling side jobs just to make ends meet.

Salaries for TSA employees are scheduled to be issued on March 3, but the length of the shutdown could affect the amount they receive. Although agents won’t face pay issues until March 17, delays and cancellations might occur at busy airports if employees have to take additional jobs to survive financially.

Coast Guard

As the only military branch under the DHS, the U.S. Coast Guard will likely see a reduction in operations during the shutdown. Training for pilots, aircrew, and boat crews will be suspended until funding is restored.

Admiral Thomas Allan, the Coast Guard’s deputy commander, emphasized to lawmakers that “all operations except those related to national security or the protection of life and property” would need to halt. The shutdown would also result in pay suspensions for 56,000 active duty, reserve, and civilian personnel, potentially harming morale and recruitment efforts.

Secret Service

The U.S. Secret Service, which plays a vital role in protecting the president and key government officials, falls under the DHS as well. While essential functions will largely remain intact, approximately 94% of its 8,000 employees will have to continue working without pay until the matter is resolved.

Matthew Quinn, the Secret Service’s deputy director, highlighted that any shutdown could impede improvements following the assassination attempt on President Trump in July 2024. He mentioned that the agency is undergoing a significant transformation and that a shutdown would derail the progress made thus far.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Even as Democratic opposition toward ICE contributes to the current impasse, the agency will continue its operations mostly unaffected during the shutdown. According to DHS guidelines, nearly 20,000 of ICE’s 21,000 workers are classified as “essential” and are expected to work without pay.

Interestingly, ICE has received approximately $75 billion in funding over the past four years from President Trump’s Big Beautiful Act, which means some core functions will maintain funding even during the shutdown.

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)

CISA has the crucial task of safeguarding America’s critical sectors—like transportation and healthcare—from various threats. However, Acting Director Madhu Gotumukkara disclosed that the agency would likely be forced to reduce its operations to emergency threat mitigation, hampering proactive measures against potential foreign adversaries.

He noted that activities such as cyber response, security assessments, and training would be affected, limiting their effectiveness during the shutdown.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

FEMA, which generally receives the bulk of its funding from Congress through the DHS, may also see its operations curtailed if the shutdown extends for too long. Fortunately, past spending leaves about $7 billion available in the Disaster Relief Fund, which is key for responding to natural disasters.

But officials cautioned that if the shutdown drags on or an unexpected disaster strikes, the DRF could quickly become an issue. FEMA is already dealing with a backlog of responses to previous disasters, and Deputy Administrator Greg Phillips noted that progress would likely stall during the shutdown.

In just 45 days, for instance, he shared that they’ve already spent $3 billion on around 5,000 projects. “We’re committed to reducing the backlog,” he stated, but warned that a shutdown would impede their efforts.