Key U.S. Homeland Security Services Affected by Government Shutdown
A partial shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has begun as funding expired after lawmakers failed to agree on a spending deal. The shutdown affects DHS agencies that protect national security and oversee border enforcement, emergency response, and travel safety.
Under contingency plans, the majority of DHS employees — nearly 92% — are classified as “exempt” and must continue working without pay until funding is restored. Most staff in the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard, and Secret Service will stay on the job but will not receive paychecks during the funding lapse.
What continues:
Law enforcement and protection functions: Officers responsible for public safety and property protection (including Secret Service and counterterrorism units) remain active.
Essential maritime and search‑and‑rescue operations by the Coast Guard continue despite the shutdown.
Emergency disaster relief operations typically continue, but longer‑term planning and reimbursement functions could be disrupted.
What is affected:
TSA workforce working without pay may lead to staffing shortages at airport checkpoints and longer security waits if many employees call in sick or take leave.
Administrative or non‑critical roles that do not directly protect life or property are likely to be furloughed.
While many frontline services carry on despite the funding lapse, the prolonged absence of pay and disruption to full operations poses risks to homeland security readiness and support functions until lawmakers resolve the funding impasse.
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