With a potential shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) looming, around 90% of its 260,000 employees may continue to work—many without pay. However, the shutdown’s impact will be different across the various components of DHS.
Congress has provided substantial funding to some DHS branches, like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). In contrast, other areas, such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), may feel a significant pinch.
ICE and CBP
During a shutdown, most ICE and CBP employees typically work without pay. However, last year’s funding allowed around 70,000 federal law enforcement officers to receive their salaries. Current discussions show that some legislators believe robust immigration reforms need to happen before any further financial support is provided to ICE and CBP. This causes uncertainty about payroll during a shutdown.
TSA
At the TSA, about 95% of employees are classified as essential. They would still work, especially during busy travel seasons, but without pay. Previous shutdowns have seen rising employee absenteeism due to stress over financial uncertainties. Some TSA employees even reported drastic measures, like sleeping in their cars or selling blood to manage their finances. The acting TSA Administrator, Ha Nguyen McNeil, has highlighted these troubling trends and the agency’s struggles to retain workers amid such challenges.
FEMA
FEMA has about 22,000 employees, with a significant portion likely to be unaffected during a brief shutdown due to funding from the Disaster Relief Fund. Despite recent staffing cuts, many frontline employees will remain on duty. However, if an extensive shutdown combines with a natural disaster, there could be serious implications for emergency response capabilities.
Secret Service
Roughly 94% of Secret Service agents will continue to work without pay during the shutdown. While this may keep operations running, it can negatively affect morale and delay important recruitment efforts.
Coast Guard
Most Coast Guard personnel will also keep working, but longer shutdowns can impact their pay stability, threatening morale and operations. Vice Admiral Thomas Allan has pointed out that service members shouldn’t have to concern themselves with family finances while performing critical surveillance duties.
CISA
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) will designate some employees as essential. However, many will also go without pay. CISA acts as a protective shield against cyber threats, and a shutdown could hinder its ability to safeguard critical systems as attacks on American infrastructure intensify.
USCIS
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is funded mainly through user fees. Most staff will continue working and getting paid, but programs reliant on congressional appropriations, like the e-Verify system, will be curtailed. This could create delays in processing applications and services.
The ongoing discussions in Congress about funding and reform grant insight into the complexities of these various agencies. As each agency prepares for a potential shutdown, the effects it can have on workers, morale, and national security remain crucial to consider.
For further insights, you can refer to reports from the Department of Homeland Security and knowledge from appropriate government studies on agency funding and employment. Understanding the ripple effects of a shutdown sheds light on its broader implications on public services and national security.
Source link
coast guard,customs and border protection,cybersecurity and infrastructure security agency,department of homeland security,federal emergency management agency,immigration and custom enforcement,secret service,transportation security administration,u.s. citizenship and immigration services
