A partial shutdown now looks likely after Senate Democrats rejected Republican offers to fund the Department of Homeland Security, and the result will be a focused lapse of DHS funding when the new fiscal day begins. The fallout will touch everyday travel, maritime safety, cyber defenses, and disaster response, even though most of the government remains funded through the fiscal year. This piece walks through which DHS components are most exposed and what Americans might expect in the coming weeks.
The immediate political story is simple: Democrats dug in and blocked GOP efforts to keep DHS funded, so only DHS faces a funding lapse at 12:01 a.m. on Feb. 14. From a Republican perspective this is a clear choice by the other side that prioritizes leverage over keeping critical homeland functions fully funded. The practical result is a partial shutdown, not a full government collapse, but it still matters because DHS covers a lot of moving parts.
This fight looks smaller than last year’s 43-day shutdown because roughly 97% of federal spending is already secured through Sept. 30 of FY 2026. That cushion limits chaos in most departments, but DHS’s broad authorities mean the effects will still be felt widely. Even a narrow lapse can ripple into airports, ports, cyber defenses, and disaster relief.
TSA operations are likely to be the most visible disruption for travelers since agents handle security at nearly 440 airports. Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill told lawmakers that around 95% of TSA employees — roughly 61,000 people — are deemed essential and would be forced to work without pay. “We heard reports of officers sleeping in their cars at airports to save money on gas, selling their blood and plasma, and taking on second jobs to make ends meet,” she said.
Those staffing realities have near-term payroll implications: a March 3 paycheck could be reduced depending on how long the lapse lasts, and full risk of missing a paycheck wouldn’t hit until March 17. If agents begin calling out to pick up second jobs or keep income flowing, travelers could see delays or cancellations at busy hubs. Airports and airlines will feel the stress even though they themselves remain funded.
The U.S. Coast Guard, the military branch housed in DHS, would face training pauses and constrained operations that could erode readiness. Training for pilots, air crews and boat crews would be paused until funding resumes, limiting the service’s ability to prepare for routine and emergency missions. Admiral Thomas Allan warned the service would have to “suspend all missions, except those for national security or the protection of life and property.”
Pay suspension would hit about 56,000 active duty, reserve, and civilian Coast Guard personnel, a reality that would sap morale and complicate recruitment. That kind of pressure is exactly why legislators on both sides sometimes push faster on appropriations for national security components. A sustained lapse would leave the Coast Guard walking a tightrope between essential missions and strained people resources.
The U.S. Secret Service would continue core protective duties but at a heavy human cost, with roughly 94% of its roughly 8,000 employees required to work without pay. “The assassination attempt on President Trump’s life brought forward hard truths for our agency and critical areas for improvement — air, space, security, communications and IT infrastructure, hiring and retention training, overarching technological improvements,” Quinn said. “We are today on the cusp of implementing generational change for our organization. A shutdown halts our reforms and undermines the momentum that we, including all of you, have worked so hard to build together.”
ICE would keep most operations running because nearly 20,000 of its roughly 21,000 employees are deemed essential and must work without pay. Even as Democrats make ICE the center of their protest, the agency has benefit from recent appropriations, including a large injection from Trump-era legislation that left it with substantial multi-year funding. That buffer means many enforcement and detention functions retain some level of funding despite the lapse.
CISA, responsible for shielding critical sectors like transportation, healthcare, and energy from cyber threats, would scale back to active threat mitigation and activities “essential to protecting and protecting life and property,” according to Acting CISA Director Madhu Gottumukkala. That squeeze shifts the agency into a reactive posture and limits proactive monitoring and stakeholder engagement. “We will be on the defensive, reactive as opposed to being proactive, and strategic in terms of how we will be able to combat those adversaries,” Gottumukkala said.
FEMA has some breathing room in its Disaster Relief Fund, with roughly $7 billion from past appropriations, but a long shutdown or a surprise catastrophic event could quickly strain that balance. The agency is already working through a backlog of projects tied to past disasters, and staff shortages or funding interruptions would slow recovery efforts. If funding lapses for an extended period, communities waiting on assistance could feel the consequences in real time.
Darnell Thompkins is a conservative opinion writer from Atlanta, GA, known for his insightful commentary on politics, culture, and community issues. With a passion for championing traditional values and personal responsibility, Darnell brings a thoughtful Southern perspective to the national conversation. His writing aims to inspire meaningful dialogue and advocate for policies that strengthen families and empower individuals.