{"id":2569573,"date":"2026-02-13T07:43:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-13T12:43:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-it-could-take-weeks-to-feel-the-brunt-of-a-dhs-shutdown\/"},"modified":"2026-02-13T07:44:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T12:44:55","slug":"why-it-could-take-weeks-to-feel-the-brunt-of-a-dhs-shutdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/why-it-could-take-weeks-to-feel-the-brunt-of-a-dhs-shutdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Why it could take weeks to feel the brunt of a DHS shutdown"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhy-it-could-take-weeks-to-feel-the-brunt-of-a-dhs-shutdown%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2569573&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The piece explains a potential funding shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) adn why it&#8217;s effects might not be instantly felt, despite a looming deadline. DHS\u2019s wide remit means a lapse could impact disaster relief (FEMA), airport and national security (Coast Guard, Secret Service), and border enforcement (ICE), but the full impact would unfold over weeks.<\/p>\n<p>Key points:<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The shutdown debate centers on immigration enforcement and ICE, though several DHS sub-agencies wiht <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/fbi-director-wray-blasts-headquarters-selection-process-for-lacking-transparency\/\" title=\"FBI Director Wray blasts headquarters selection process for lacking transparency\">critical national security functions<\/a> are also in play. Democrats want to fund all DHS agencies except ICE; republicans oppose a piecemeal approach.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Negotiations involve the White House and congressional Democrats, who seek tighter guardrails on Border Patrol and ICE tactics. Republicans have resisted patchwork funding and prefer a comprehensive package.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Some DHS functions would continue with existing funds or contingency measures. The Coast Guard and Secret Service would operate with most staff, FEMA could furlough a portion of workers, and elements like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure security Agency could see ample furloughs.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The timing risk is low in the near term as paychecks for many employees don\u2019t go out until mid-March, but officials warned that a shutdown could still erode public trust and force staffing reductions.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The article notes that immigration enforcement might persist due to funds from the previous year\u2019s tax law, while other agencies rely on current funding bills to remain operational.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; The next steps involve Democrats presenting a new DHS proposal with reform conditions while white House and Republicans push for a broader agreement or an interim funding patch.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Why it could take weeks to feel the brunt of a DHS shutdown<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2503618\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-homeland-security\/\">Department of Homeland Security&rsquo;s<\/a> broad reach means that everything from disaster relief to airport security could be hampered if <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/government-shutdown\/\">funding runs out<\/a> on Saturday, but it might take weeks before the public feels the impact.<\/p>\n<p>The dispute over how to reform the agency, sparked by the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4436250\/two-federal-officers-fired-shots-alex-pretti\/\">fatal shooting of Alex Pretti<\/a> in Minneapolis last month, centers on immigration enforcement. But swept up in negotiations are several sub-departments responsible for critical national security functions, including the Coast Guard and Secret Service.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4456703\/john-fetterman-refuses-engage-sexist-garbage-kristi-noem-ice-barbie\/\">John Fetterman says he refuses to engage in &#8216;sexist garbage&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4456466\/nicki-minaj-calls-on-barbz-tell-senators-pass-save-act\/\">Nicki Minaj calls on &#8216;Barbz&#8217; to tell their senators to pass the SAVE Act<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4456177\/dhs-brink-prolonged-shutdown-senate-democrats-funding-ice\/\">DHS on brink of prolonged shutdown after Senate Democrats block funding over ICE<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The White House is negotiating a set of guardrails that congressional Democrats want to place on the tactics used by Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The two sides are still far apart, however, and Democrats are refusing to keep DHS limping along with a temporary funding patch.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/energy-and-environment\/4456382\/controversial-car-stop-start-systems-end-trump-deregulation\/\">CAR STOP-START SYSTEMS MAY GO AWAY THANKS TO TRUMP DEREGULATION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The impasse means that DHS is expected to enter a shutdown on Friday at midnight, forcing the agency to conserve resources and keep only essential personnel working. Still, the administration has access to rainy day funds and time to spare before paychecks go out for thousands of employees.<\/p>\n<p>Immigration enforcement, meanwhile, will continue to operate due to billions of dollars set aside in President Donald Trump&rsquo;s tax law last year.<\/p>\n<p>Lawmakers left town for a week-long recess on Thursday after Senate Democrats <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4456177\/dhs-brink-prolonged-shutdown-senate-democrats-funding-ice\/\">blocked an attempt to pass<\/a> DHS funding, but they could be called back on short notice should a deal with the White House come together.<\/p>\n<p>Testifying before the House on Wednesday, the leaders of various DHS agencies <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=aTCnIyXYqkk\">warned<\/a> that another shutdown risks eroding trust with the public and an uptick in federal employees quitting, whether the lapse in funding is short or not.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-delayed-impact\">Delayed impact<\/h2>\n<p>The political risk of a shutdown is currently low in large part because paychecks don&rsquo;t go out until mid-March for Transportation Security Administration employees who safeguard the nation&rsquo;s airports. Canceled flights and long wait times became a major pressure point for lawmakers last fall, when the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/campaigns-seize-on-government-shutdown-to-bolster-candidates\/\" title=\"Campaigns seize on government ... to bolster candidates\">federal government shuttered<\/a> for a record 43 days.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4441322\/fact-check-al-gore-inconvenient-truth-20th-anniversary\/\">JOE CONCHA: AN INCONVENIENT FACT CHECK: AL GORE&rsquo;S INCONVENIENT TRUTH ON ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The administration also has contingency funds it has tapped before and could do so again.<\/p>\n<p>Members of the Coast Guard, the only branch of the military that falls under DHS, received a paycheck in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Sec_Noem\/status\/1977853423077785601?s=20\">October<\/a>, even without DHS funding. A similar fallback exists for the Secret Service, which is tasked with protecting current and former presidents.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of disaster relief, the Federal Emergency Management Agency would be forced to furlough some workers, but it can continue to cut checks for state recovery efforts with the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eenews.net\/articles\/congress-stuck-on-homeland-security-fema-funding-bill\/\">$7 billion<\/a> it still has at its disposal.<\/p>\n<p>ICE, the sub-agency at the center of the funding dispute, received a $75 billion infusion of cash from Republicans to staff up its deportation operation last July, meaning the impact on immigration enforcement will be muted, though acting ICE director Todd Lyons testified in a Tuesday House oversight hearing that the disruption could still be &ldquo;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newsnationnow.com\/us-news\/immigration\/immigration-officer-pay-government-shutdown\/\">significant<\/a>.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Democrats have proposed legislation that would fund every DHS agency except ICE, but Republicans have rejected the piecemeal approach and unsuccessfully tried to pass a two-week funding patch for all agency functions on Thursday.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bare-bones-staffing\">Bare bones staffing<\/h2>\n<p>In the meantime, DHS will be instructed to keep only essential personnel working through the duration of the shutdown.<\/p>\n<p>That&rsquo;s almost the TSA&rsquo;s entire workforce, which is responsible for security at airports but also ports and mass transit systems. The same goes for the Secret Service, which will keep <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.house.gov\/meetings\/AP\/AP15\/20260211\/118960\/HHRG-119-AP15-Wstate-QuinnM-20260211.pdf\">94% of its employees<\/a> working, and FEMA, which is expected to furlough only <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.eenews.net\/articles\/how-fema-and-nws-would-weather-a-government-shutdown\/\">15% of its staff<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>A senior Coast Guard leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stripes.com\/branches\/coast_guard\/2026-02-11\/coast-guard-pay-potential-shutdown-20705210.html\">testified<\/a> on Wednesday that some 56,000 personnel would be forced to work without pay. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, meanwhile, is likely to furlough a far bigger percentage &mdash; almost two-thirds of its workforce.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4455884\/senate-democrats-weigh-skipping-trump-state-of-the-union-speech\/\"><strong>SENATE DEMOCRATS WEIGH SKIPPING TRUMP STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The staffing decisions will allow core functions to continue for DHS. Other <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >government agencies won&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t be affected at all, however, due to a pair of funding bills Trump signed into law in November 2025 and January.<\/p>\n<p>The next step in funding negotiations is for Democrats to produce a new proposal for the White House as they press for tighter warrant requirements and other reforms meant to moderate ICE conduct.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>May take weeks to feel DHS shutdown impact<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2651,"featured_media":2569574,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26024829264001_836060-e1770934907441.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[71964,73730,73731,71961,73732],"class_list":["post-2569573","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-budget-crisis-2","tag-dhs-shutdown","tag-federal-agencies-2","tag-government-shutdown-2","tag-impact-timeline"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26024829264001_836060-e1770934907441.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569573","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2651"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2569573"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569573\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2569577,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569573\/revisions\/2569577"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2569574"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2569573"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2569573"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2569573"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}