Unpacking the 2026 DHS Shutdown: Unfunded Agencies and Their Implications on National Security

CHICAGO — Despite an executive order from President Donald Trump ensuring back pay for essential TSA security officers to maintain airport operations, many Department of Homeland Security employees remain unpaid. This group includes critical personnel responsible for national security.

TSA Officer and Union Representative Tatiana Finlay expressed her frustration, stating, “It is their fault. They should be working towards getting a resolution to get the federal workers who are impacted by the shutdown paid.”

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Finlay’s remarks echo the sentiments of numerous DHS workers who, unlike her team receiving paychecks, continue to wait for a funding agreement.

“We feel a little bit of relief, but now we’re just trying to play catch up,” Finlay added, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by those newly receiving pay.

While sworn law enforcement agents at DHS, such as those in ICE, CBP, and the Secret Service, continue to receive their salaries due to a bill passed earlier this year, non-agent members of the Secret Service involved in critical research and cybersecurity experts remain in financial limbo.

Digital threats continue with the Iran War. Iran-linked cybercriminals have targeted U.S. companies, and members of the Trump administration, including FBI Director Kash Patel, hacking one of his email addresses from prior to 2019 and exposing private correspondence.

Federal Emergency Management Agency workers also continue to go unfunded, potentially slowing vital disaster response and relief. Army veteran and former FEMA officer, Steve Reaves, is speaking out on behalf of his colleagues.

“They’re calling out, they’re calling out for work, and they’re asking to be in furlough, just let me stay at home. That way I don’t have to worry about, you know, paying for gas to come into work every day or lunch every day, and that’s just one less burden that they have,” said Reaves.

He says he chose to retire from his post at FEMA after 14 years this January, citing job instability.

“It’s just wrong, and we can’t, we can’t continue to operate like this and expect a high level of performance out of people who are constantly worried about paying, you know, bills, week to week, month to month,” said Reaves.

Trump is urging lawmakers to come back early from Easter recess to hammer out a deal on this shutdown, but there is no timeline for when or if that may happen.