DHS Shutdown and the Safety Impact [Video]

Lawmakers failed to come to an agreement over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by the midnight Friday deadline leading to the third partial government shutdown in as many months.

The only federal agency impacted by this partial shutdown is DHS, however, the Department is responsible for immigration enforcement, disaster response, and airport security.

5 Things to Know About DHS Shutdown:

1. It is unclear how long the partial shutdown will last. Democrats have presented a list of 10 demands. Some of the demands have garnered bipartisan support, however, others have been met with significant push back.
   1. On Thursday, Senate Republicans attempted to pass a short-term funding extension to allow more time for negotiations. The measure was blocked by Democrats who said it was “insufficient and incomplete.”
   2. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, (D-N.Y.), said, “Democrats will not support a blank check for chaos. This vote today asked a simple question: Will you rein in ICE’s abuses or will you vote to extend the chaos. Republicans chose chaos. The Democrats, we refused.”
2. ICE will likely continue uninterrupted. Due to the $70 billion DHS received after the massive tax and spending bill was passed in Congress last summer, leaders with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Protection told lawmakers it is not likely they will experience a significant impact.
3. Air travel may eventually see delays. The majority of the 64,000 Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) employees are considered “essential” workers and will have to continue to perform their duties. However, in the past, as the paychecks dwindled, more security workers stayed home citing “financial limitations” as a reason to not report for work.
   1. TSA leaders report that some employees are still feeling the impact of the lengthy funding lapse in the fall. Acting TSA administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill said, “We saw a lot of folks have to take on second jobs, making for extremely long work days. Some are just recovering from the financial impact of the 43-day shutdown. Many are still reeling from it. We cannot put them through another such experience.”
4. Disaster response will still be available. however it may be slower. FEMA will be affected by the shutdown but will be able to respond to emergencies. The agency supports state and local governments when large disasters occur, such as the ice storm that struck the eastern portion on the United States earlier this winter.
   1. The funding for this type of assistance comes from the Disaster Relief Fund established by Congress. On Wednesday, Gregg Phillips, who is the organization’s associate administrator, told Congress the fund “has sufficient balances to continue emergency response activities for the foreseeable future.”
   2. Additionally, FEMA assists with costs of disaster recovery, including repairs to schools, homes, roads, hauling away debris and building infrastructure. This type of work can protect people during the next disaster and takes years to complete. This is the work that will be slowed by the current partial shutdown as some employees my be furloughed and some types of funding will be unavailable. Phillips told members of the House, “A government shutdown would severely disrupt FEMA’s ability to reimburse states for disaster relief costs and to support our recovery from disasters.”
5. Some Coast Guard missions may be suspended. Even though the Coast Guard is a branch of the military, it is housed within DHS. On Wednesday, Admiral Thomas Allan told the House Appropriations Committee during a shutdown, the Coast Guard will have to pause non-essential missions and defer training and maintenance in addition for commercial safety inspections and other services.

Written by Jeanette Vietti

Sources:

PBS: Democrats pushing to ‘get ICE under control’ with DHS shutdown, Jeffries says
NPR: DHS shuts down after a funding lapse. And, why athletes get the ‘yips’ at the Olympics

Featured Image Courtesy of Mark Flscher’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License