DHS shutdown threatens airport delays, Americans’ federal disaster relief

The federal government entered its third partial shutdown in the past six months after Congress failed to agree on the full 12-year spending bill.

But unlike past shutdowns, this one only affects the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This comes after Democrats pulled out of a bipartisan deal to fund the department amid uproar over President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigrants in Minneapolis.

And even though the federal government is about 97% funded at this point, shutting down DHS will still have impacts on ordinary Americans; These effects will become more pronounced as distance increases.

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Air travel delays

The disruptions at the TSA, whose agents are responsible for security checks at nearly 440 airports across the country, may be the most impactful part of the partial shutdown of Americans’ daily lives.

Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill told lawmakers at a hearing Wednesday that about 95% of TSA workers — about 61,000 people — are deemed essential and would be forced to work without pay in the event of a shutdown.

“We heard about cops sleeping in their cars at airports to save on gas, selling their blood and plasma, and working second jobs to make ends meet,” he said of the latest shutdown.

But it will take some time for TSA funding to translate into delays. TSA agents, like other essential federal employees, received their back pay when the shutdown ended. Those who missed shifts also received a $10,000 bonus for additional relief.

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TSA paychecks due March 3 may see agents’ salaries reduced depending on the duration of the closure. Agents won’t be at risk of missing an entire paycheck until March 17.

But if that happens, Americans could see delays and even cancellations at the nation’s busiest airports; because TSA agents will have to quit and find second jobs to make ends meet.

Passengers wait in line to use the automatic passport control kiosks installed for international passengers arriving at Miami International Airport. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

natural disaster compensation

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is one of the largest and most critical recipients of federal funding under DHS.

Office of Response and Recovery Deputy Administrator Gregg Phillips told lawmakers Wednesday that FEMA has sufficient funds to continue disaster response through shutdowns for the foreseeable future, but its budget would be strained in the event of an unforeseen “catastrophic disaster.”

This means Americans facing an unexpected natural disaster during the shutdown could see delayed federal refunds for their homes and small businesses.

Those who experienced a natural disaster last year but still haven’t received their checks (FEMA is currently working through a backlog worth billions of dollars) may see aid delayed even further during the shutdown.

“In the 45 days I’ve been here, we’ve spent $3 billion in 45 days on 5,000 projects,” Phillips said. “We’re going as fast as we can. We’re committed to reducing the backlog. I can’t go any faster than we actually are. And if this stops, this will stop, too.”

People are seen outside the wildfire shelter at the Pasadena Convention Center on January 21, 2025. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

Worker visa procedures

American business owners who rely on certain types of worker visas may see processing times increase during the DHS shutdown.

This is because United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) programs are run under DHS and are responsible for processing most immigration applications as well as temporary visas.

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The majority of these programs are funded by fees and remain largely untouched. But areas like e-Verify, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program, Conrad 30 J-1 physicians, and nondepartmental chaplains all depend on funds appropriated by Congress. American Immigration Lawyers Association.

USCIS may allow employers to use alternative processes if eVerify is disrupted during a shutdown, but it’s unclear how much time that would add to business owners’ daily responsibilities to learn a new route for that paperwork.