The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officially entered a partial government shutdown starting at the first minute of February 14, following the block of funding in the Senate.
The measure, which only affects agencies under the umbrella of the DHS, reignites uncertainty regarding the operation of key entities such as the controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The funding for DHS expired without the White House and Democrats reaching an agreement.
Democratic lawmakers conditioned the approval of new funding on the imposition of additional restrictions to President Donald Trump's immigration agenda, including changes in the behavior of federal agents and visible identification requirements during operations.
According to the agency AP, Trump agreed to separate DHS funding from a broader spending package “to allow more time for negotiations on demands for changes in the enforcement of immigration laws.”
However, the Department only received temporary funding until February 13, and once that deadline expired, the closure was activated.
Which agencies are affected?
Unlike the historic 43-day shutdown that occurred last autumn, this time the impact is limited to the Department of Homeland Security.
Among the affected agencies are:
- The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
-The Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office.
-The Secret Service.
-The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
-The Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
The rest of the federal government continues to be funded until September 30, so programs such as food assistance and the salaries of most public and military employees will not be interrupted.
What will happen with ICE?
Despite the closure, ICE's operations will not stop.
Republicans have emphasized that both ICE and CBP have significant funds approved last year as part of the tax and spending cuts package pushed by Trump.
That package allocated approximately $75 billion to ICE and about $65 billion to CBP, resources that can continue to be used for deportation operations and immigration control.
In other words, although the DHS is technically without new funding, federal immigration operations will largely continue without immediate interruptions.
What is happening with the workers?
The human impact of the shutdown once again focuses on federal employees.
It is up to each agency to determine which workers are "essential" or "exempt," categories that imply they must continue working even if they do not receive payment until funding is restored.
At the DHS, most of the staff falls into that category.
Of the more than 270,000 people employed by National Security, over 258,000 were deemed essential during the previous shutdown, while about 22,000 (around 5%) were temporarily suspended.
At the TSA, about 95% of the staff is considered essential.
This means that the agents will continue to screen passengers and luggage at commercial airports, but they will do so without charging until Congress approves new funding.
The situation is particularly concerning because many employees have not yet recovered financially from the previous shutdown.
"Some workers are just now recovering from the financial impact of the 43-day closure. Many are still reeling from it," warned Ha Nguyen McNeill, a senior official acting as TSA administrator.
During the previous shutdown, the increase in sick leave and the inability to cover basic expenses led to the closure of checkpoints, as happened at Philadelphia International Airport.
Then, the agency acknowledged that "the extension of the shutdown exacerbates the impact on our TSA workforce."
Will there be an impact on travelers?
Although air traffic controllers are not directly affected by this DHS closure, experts warn that delays could occur.
Even a small number of unexpected absences at the TSA can lead to long lines at small airports, especially if they have only one checkpoint.
The Republican leader of the Senate, John Thune, warned that "there is a very good chance we will see more travel problems" similar to those from the previous shutdown.
Some airlines may delay departures to allow all passengers to complete security checks. Additionally, the screening of checked baggage could slow down if the available staff decreases.
In light of this situation, experts advise travelers to arrive earlier.
"I recommend that people do this even during normal times," noted an aviation specialist consulted.
Impact on other agencies
In the Secret Service and the Coast Guard, most staff will continue working, although they could go without pay if the shutdown persists.
In the case of FEMA, the shutdown limits the agency's ability to reimburse states for costs associated with natural disasters. It could also lead to the suspension of workers, which would impact coordination with state and local authorities and the training of response teams at the National University of Disaster and Emergency Management in Maryland.
While negotiations continue privately, the partial shutdown is already underway.
Although ICE and CBP will continue their operations thanks to previously approved funds, thousands of federal workers will once again face the uncertainty of working without pay, and airports could feel the pressure again if the political impasse continues.
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