02.12.26 - What Happens if the Department of Homeland Security Shuts Down?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will shut down tomorrow unless Congress can reach a funding deal—a possibility that seems increasingly remote. I’ll briefly outline what that means below. For background on how we got here, check out last week’s update.
Why might DHS shut down tomorrow?
Last month, Congress funded most of the government through September 30. They only funded DHS, however, through February 13 to give lawmakers time to negotiate funding restrictions that address Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol’s tactics in the wake of Renée Good and Alex Pretti’s murders. Those talks have not yielded an agreement, without which there likely aren’t sufficient votes to extend DHS funding past tomorrow’s deadline. Without that extension, DHS will shut down.
Which DHS activities continue during a shutdown?
Numerous DHS functions will continue, either because they are considered essential or are financed through fees rather than the appropriations process. This means activities like Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster responses and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airport security will continue. However, it does not mean the public won’t notice a difference if the shutdown drags on. Essential DHS employees will work without pay, and past prolonged shutdowns have led to unplanned employee absences—including at TSA, causing airport delays.
What about immigration enforcement?
ICE and Border Patrol activities will continue unabated during a DHS shutdown because last summer’s Republican budget law allocated an extra $170 billion for immigration enforcement, paid for by cuts to health care and food assistance. As a result, ICE and Border Patrol have ample funding to tap into, even without appropriations from Congress.
How does a DHS shutdown end?
Like all shutdowns end: when Congress passes and the President signs a funding bill, whether it’s another short-term patch that keeps DHS funded at current levels or a long-term deal to fund the agency through September. As things stand, that won’t happen without an agreement to rein in ICE and Border Patrol—or, at least, serious progress indicating a deal is in sight. And right now, it’s not.
If you’d like a live update for your group or coalition, reach out to catherine@webuildprogress.org. Thanks!