DHS Emergency Funding Nears Depletion; TSA Says More than 1,100 Officers Have Left
The Trump administration says emergency funds being used to pay Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees will be exhausted by May, unless the broader DHS shutdown is resolved.
“DHS will soon run out of critical operating funds, placing essential personnel and operations at risk,” the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo said.
It’s unclear whether workers who were on furlough will be placed back on furlough status should the available funds run out.
“Should the department exhaust currently available funds before an FY 2026 appropriation for DHS is enacted, you will receive a new notification of your work status at that time,” agency leaders told employees earlier this month.
According to OMB, about $1.7 billion of the $10 billion pulled from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) remained to pay DHS workers, as of April 17.
TSA Departures Rise
This comes as DHS confirms that more than 1,100 Transportation Security Administration Officers have quit since the start of the shutdown in February.
“Ahead of the FIFA World Cup and summer travel, this loss has SIGNIFICANTLY decreased TSA’s ability to meet passenger demand and left critical gaps in staffing, as each new recruit requires 4-6 MONTHS of training,” DHS said in a post on X.
The possibility that money for paychecks will dry up is again raising fears of long lines at airport security checkpoints.
House Adopts Resolution for Immigration Enforcement Funds
Meanwhile, the House approved the Senate’s fiscal blueprint funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), unlocking the ability for Republicans to pass a party-line reconciliation package. The 215-211 vote was along party lines.
With both chambers passing the blueprint, lawmakers can work on a filibuster-proof reconciliation bill to provide about $70 billion in funding for immigration enforcement. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Judiciary committees will take the lead on writing the legislation.
Senate leaders hope to have the bill on the floor by the week of May 11.
Democrats continue to demand reforms to immigration enforcement.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) says the bill funds ICE and CBP “with basically no strings attached.”
House Republicans have yet to vote on a Senate-passed bill that would fund DHS minus ICE and CBP. It’s unclear when Speaker Mike Johnson will put that bill up for a vote. Some conservatives are upset that the bill would not fund ICE and CBP from the get-go.
