The leaders of various agencies within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alerted that a government shutdown could severely hinder the United States’ readiness in six regions, as the department may exhaust its funding by the end of the week due to Democratic pressures surrounding immigration enforcement reforms.
On Wednesday, five agency heads shared these concerns with the House Appropriations Committee. The officials included those from the Coast Guard, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Secret Service. All of these agencies depend on the DHS funding bill.
Agency leaders stressed that a shutdown would compel them to prioritize only life-saving missions, sidelining longer-term preparedness efforts. Adm. Thomas Allen, from the Coast Guard, indicated that essential operations would have to be curtailed. He stated, “The loss of appropriations would require the Coast Guard to suspend all missions except those related to national security and protection of life and property.” He also noted that a lack of funding presents serious and ongoing challenges to operational readiness and future capabilities.
TSA Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeil added to Allen’s claims by pointing out how the shutdown’s effects ripple down to workers. For instance, she mentioned Jonathan Abdullahi, a technical standards officer at Tucson International Airport, who faced financial difficulties after the previous government shutdown that lasted 43 days in October 2025. “After several missed paychecks, I had no choice but to put everything on my credit card,” she said. “He’s still catching up financially due to high interest rates.”
Conversely, some Democratic lawmakers argued that most vital services would remain operational during the shutdown. Texas Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar remarked that nearly 90% of DHS would continue to function even if Congress fails to reach an agreement by the deadline.
Currently, DHS is navigating a two-week funding extension that lawmakers approved back in late January amidst a stalemate over Democratic demands in relation to a $1.2 trillion spending package.
Democrats have made it clear that they won’t back any DHS funding bill devoid of significant regulations concerning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), especially following two recent fatal confrontations between ICE agents and civilians. They proposed ten specific amendments, including bans on certain practices and stronger warrant requirements, but Republicans have dismissed these requests, arguing they would hamper government operations.
Despite the looming shutdown threat, ICE remains funded well enough through legislation passed in July 2025 that ensures operations through at least 2027. Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) asserted, “Congress made a historic investment of $191 billion in border security and immigration protection in 2025. Therefore, we will not focus on ICE and CBP. The missions of these agencies will be largely unaffected by the closure.”
Amodei also expressed concern about the potential delays to other services, like cybersecurity protections. CISA Acting Director Madhu Gottumukkara echoed this apprehension, explaining, “Let me be clear: Once the government is shut down, the cyber threat doesn’t just disappear; the enemy is active 24/7.” He emphasized that limited operations during a shutdown could hinder the agency’s ability to offer essential guidance and support to partners across the country.
Similarly, FEMA’s deputy administrator, Greg Phillips, highlighted that a government shutdown poses serious risks, particularly in winter. He described FEMA’s proactive steps during a recent snowstorm, mentioning the deployment of resources like generators, meals, and blankets across the nation, underscoring how crucial coordination and support could be hampered in a shutdown scenario.
DHS is set to enter a funding lockdown by Saturday morning, yet discussions about a short-term extension continue among lawmakers. However, it remains uncertain whether Democrats will agree to another temporary measure.
