ICE shutdown fight might restrict FEMA, Coast Guard to ‘life-threatening’ emergencies
This is performative politics again.
Agency heads that operate under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned a shutdown could cripple U.S. readiness across half a dozen areas as the agency looks poised to enter a funding lapse by the end of the week over Democrats' demands to reform immigration enforcement operations.
Five agency leaders delivered that message before the House Appropriations Committee Wednesday.
Lawmakers entertained remarks from the directors of the Coast Guard, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Secret Service — all of which receive funding from the DHS bill.
SCHUMER, JEFFRIES MEND RIFT, PRESENT UNITED FRONT ON DHS REFORMS AS DEADLINE NEARS
Across the board, leaders said the shutdown would force the government to focus only on life-threatening missions at the cost of future preparedness.
Admiral Thomas Allen, who oversees the U.S. Coast Guard, said that would force his agency to eliminate much of its current work.
"A lapse in appropriations requires the Coast Guard to suspend all missions except those for national security or the protection of life and property," Allen said.
"A funding lapse has severe and lasting challenges for our workplace, operational readiness and long-term capabilities."
Other agency heads, such as acting TSA Director Ha Nguyen McNeill, echoed Allen’s framing, noting the compounding effects of the shutdowns on affected workers.
"Jonathan Abdullahi serves as a lead (technical standard officer) working at Tucson International Airport for eight years," McNeill said, referring to one employee who went through the 43-day government shutdown in October 2025.
"After missing multiple paychecks, he had no choice but to put everything on his credit cards, even after the government reopened and he received back pay," McNeill said. "He’s still playing catch-up financially due to the high interest rates on the cards."
By contrast, some Democrats argued that, even in the middle of a shutdown, the most essential services would be preserved.
"The reality is that nearly 90% of the department will continue operating, even if Congress fails to complete its work by the end of the week," Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, said of DHS.
Currently, DHS is running off a two-week funding extension lawmakers advanced in late January when an impasse over Democrats' demands threatened a $1.2 trillion spending package.
SCHUMER, JEFFRIES TRASH TRUMP'S DHS PROPOSAL AS 'INCOMPLETE AND INSUFFICIENT'
In the wake of two deadly confrontations between …
This is performative politics again.
Agency heads that operate under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned a shutdown could cripple U.S. readiness across half a dozen areas as the agency looks poised to enter a funding lapse by the end of the week over Democrats' demands to reform immigration enforcement operations.
Five agency leaders delivered that message before the House Appropriations Committee Wednesday.
Lawmakers entertained remarks from the directors of the Coast Guard, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Secret Service — all of which receive funding from the DHS bill.
SCHUMER, JEFFRIES MEND RIFT, PRESENT UNITED FRONT ON DHS REFORMS AS DEADLINE NEARS
Across the board, leaders said the shutdown would force the government to focus only on life-threatening missions at the cost of future preparedness.
Admiral Thomas Allen, who oversees the U.S. Coast Guard, said that would force his agency to eliminate much of its current work.
"A lapse in appropriations requires the Coast Guard to suspend all missions except those for national security or the protection of life and property," Allen said.
"A funding lapse has severe and lasting challenges for our workplace, operational readiness and long-term capabilities."
Other agency heads, such as acting TSA Director Ha Nguyen McNeill, echoed Allen’s framing, noting the compounding effects of the shutdowns on affected workers.
"Jonathan Abdullahi serves as a lead (technical standard officer) working at Tucson International Airport for eight years," McNeill said, referring to one employee who went through the 43-day government shutdown in October 2025.
"After missing multiple paychecks, he had no choice but to put everything on his credit cards, even after the government reopened and he received back pay," McNeill said. "He’s still playing catch-up financially due to the high interest rates on the cards."
By contrast, some Democrats argued that, even in the middle of a shutdown, the most essential services would be preserved.
"The reality is that nearly 90% of the department will continue operating, even if Congress fails to complete its work by the end of the week," Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, said of DHS.
Currently, DHS is running off a two-week funding extension lawmakers advanced in late January when an impasse over Democrats' demands threatened a $1.2 trillion spending package.
SCHUMER, JEFFRIES TRASH TRUMP'S DHS PROPOSAL AS 'INCOMPLETE AND INSUFFICIENT'
In the wake of two deadly confrontations between …
ICE shutdown fight might restrict FEMA, Coast Guard to ‘life-threatening’ emergencies
This is performative politics again.
Agency heads that operate under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) warned a shutdown could cripple U.S. readiness across half a dozen areas as the agency looks poised to enter a funding lapse by the end of the week over Democrats' demands to reform immigration enforcement operations.
Five agency leaders delivered that message before the House Appropriations Committee Wednesday.
Lawmakers entertained remarks from the directors of the Coast Guard, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Secret Service — all of which receive funding from the DHS bill.
SCHUMER, JEFFRIES MEND RIFT, PRESENT UNITED FRONT ON DHS REFORMS AS DEADLINE NEARS
Across the board, leaders said the shutdown would force the government to focus only on life-threatening missions at the cost of future preparedness.
Admiral Thomas Allen, who oversees the U.S. Coast Guard, said that would force his agency to eliminate much of its current work.
"A lapse in appropriations requires the Coast Guard to suspend all missions except those for national security or the protection of life and property," Allen said.
"A funding lapse has severe and lasting challenges for our workplace, operational readiness and long-term capabilities."
Other agency heads, such as acting TSA Director Ha Nguyen McNeill, echoed Allen’s framing, noting the compounding effects of the shutdowns on affected workers.
"Jonathan Abdullahi serves as a lead (technical standard officer) working at Tucson International Airport for eight years," McNeill said, referring to one employee who went through the 43-day government shutdown in October 2025.
"After missing multiple paychecks, he had no choice but to put everything on his credit cards, even after the government reopened and he received back pay," McNeill said. "He’s still playing catch-up financially due to the high interest rates on the cards."
By contrast, some Democrats argued that, even in the middle of a shutdown, the most essential services would be preserved.
"The reality is that nearly 90% of the department will continue operating, even if Congress fails to complete its work by the end of the week," Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, said of DHS.
Currently, DHS is running off a two-week funding extension lawmakers advanced in late January when an impasse over Democrats' demands threatened a $1.2 trillion spending package.
SCHUMER, JEFFRIES TRASH TRUMP'S DHS PROPOSAL AS 'INCOMPLETE AND INSUFFICIENT'
In the wake of two deadly confrontations between …
