Here’s how the DHS shutdown could impact the lives of everyday Americans

The federal government has entered its third partial shutdown in the past six months after Congress failed to reach agreement on all 12 annual spending bills.

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

And while about 97% of the federal government is currently funded, a DHS shutdown will still have consequences for everyday Americans—effects that will become more apparent the longer the standoff continues.

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Air travel delays

Disruptions at the TSA, whose agents are responsible for security checkpoints at nearly 440 airports across the country, could be perhaps 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 — about 61,000 people — are considered essential and would be forced to work without pay in the event of a shutdown.

“We heard reports of officers 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 closure.

But it would take some time before TSA funding could translate into delays. TSA agents, like other essential federal workers, received back pay once the shutdown ended. Those who didn’t miss any services also received a $10,000 bonus for additional relief.

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TSA paychecks due March 3 could see agents receive lower 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 as TSA agents are forced to leave their jobs and find second jobs to make ends meet.

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

Compensation for natural disasters

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

Associate Administrator of the Office of Response and Recovery Gregg Phillips told lawmakers Wednesday that FEMA has enough money to continue disaster relief through a shutdown for the foreseeable 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 delayed federal reimbursement for their homes and small businesses.

Others who have already experienced a natural disaster in the past year but still haven’t received their checks — FEMA is currently working through a backlog worth billions of dollars — could see aid delayed even further during the shutdown.

“In the 45 days I’ve been here… we’ve spent $3 billion on 5,000 projects in 45 days,” Phillips said. “We’re going as fast as we can. We’re committed to closing the gap. I can’t go faster than we actually are. And if this goes away, that stops.”

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

Processing of employee visas

U.S. business owners who rely on certain types of employee visas may experience longer processing times during a DHS shutdown.

That’s because the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) programs are administered under DHS and are responsible for processing most immigration applications and temporary visas.

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The majority of these programs are fee-funded and largely untouched. However, areas like e-Verify, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program, Conrad 30 J-1 physicians and non-minister religious workers all rely on funding appropriated by Congress, the American Association of Immigration Lawyers.

USCIS could allow employers to use alternate processes if e-Verify is disrupted during a shutdown, but it’s not clear how much time it would add to business owners’ daily responsibilities to learn a new route for that paperwork.