DHS shutdown threatens airport delays, Americans’ federal disaster relief

The federal government entered its third partial shutdown of the past half year after Congress failed to reach an agreement on its 12 annual spending bills.

However, unlike previous shutdowns, this one only concerns the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This comes after Democrats walked away from a bipartisan deal to fund the department, amid outcry over President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.

And even though about 97 percent of the federal government has been funded at this point, a DHS shutdown will still have effects on ordinary Americans — effects that will become more evident as the standoff drags on.

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Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem delivers a press conference on January 24, 2026. (Al Drago/Getty Images)

Air travel delays

The disruptions at the TSA, whose agents are responsible for security screenings at nearly 440 airports across the country, could perhaps 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 employees, or about 61,000 people, are considered essential and will be forced to work without pay in the event of a shutdown.

“We’ve heard reports that agents are sleeping in their cars at airports to save money on gas, selling their blood and plasma and taking second jobs to make ends meet,” she said of the latest shutdown.

But it will be some time before TSA funding results in delays. TSA officers, like other essential federal workers, received back pay once the shutdown ended. Those who did not miss their shift also received a $10,000 bonus for additional relief.

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TSA paychecks due March 3 could allow officers to receive reduced pay depending on the length of the shutdown. Officers would not be at risk of missing a full paycheck until March 17.

If that happens, however, Americans could face delays or even cancellations at the nation’s busiest airports, with TSA agents forced to stop working and find second jobs to make ends meet.

Passengers line up to use automated passport control kiosks set up for international travelers arriving at Miami International Airport. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Reimbursement in the event of a natural disaster

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 Associate Administrator Gregg Phillips told lawmakers Wednesday that FEMA has enough funds to continue disaster response through a shutdown for the immediate future, but that its budget would be strained in the event of an unforeseen “catastrophic disaster.”

That means Americans hit by an unexpected natural disaster during the shutdown could see federal reimbursement delayed for their homes and small businesses.

Others who already experienced a natural disaster last year but still haven’t received their checks — FEMA is currently working through a backlog worth billions of dollars — could see that relief further delayed 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 it fails, it will stop.”

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

Work Visa Processing

U.S. business owners who rely on certain types of work visas could see longer processing times during a DHS shutdown.

Indeed, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) programs fall 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 intact. However, areas like e-Verify, the Regional Center Program for EB-5 Immigrant Investors, Conrad 30 J-1 Physicians and non-ministerial religious workers all rely on funding from Congress, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

USCIS could allow employers to use alternative processes if e-Verify is disrupted during a shutdown, but it is unclear how much time this would add to business owners’ daily responsibilities to learn a new route for this paperwork.