The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding freeze has become the longest partial government shutdown in US history, now entering its sixth week. If it continues beyond the weekend, it will surpass the 43-day impasse from late last year to become the longest shutdown of any kind.
The DHS, the fourth-largest US agency with 193,867 employees representing 9.4% of the federal workforce, has been caught in a political deadlock. Congress and President Donald Trump have attempted to redirect funds to the DHS or its Transportation Security Administration (TSA), but efforts have failed due to an impasse over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations.
On Friday, TSA absenteeism hit a new high, with over 3,560 employees—more than 12% of the workforce—calling out sick. DHS spokesperson Lauren Bis said more than 500 officers have quit and thousands called out because they cannot afford basic necessities. The agency reports that over 480 TSA workers have left since the shutdown began.
Trump signed a memo late Friday ordering DHS to restore pay to TSA employees, who have missed two paychecks. The memo directs DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to use funds with a reasonable nexus to TSA operations. White House border czar Tom Homan said paying TSA agents is a start, but noted tens of thousands of other DHS employees remain unpaid. He added that ICE agents will remain at airports as long as needed.
Meanwhile, the House rejected a Senate-passed bill to fund much of DHS, excluding ICE and border patrol, creating a rift between Republicans. House Speaker Mike Johnson called the bill a “gambit,” and Majority Leader Steve Scalise said senators expressed buyer’s remorse. Scalise noted House Republicans have concerns that the bill defunds 25% of DHS operations.
