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The federal government has entered its third partial shutdown in the last six months after Congress failed to reach an agreement on all 12 of its annual spending bills.
However, unlike previous shutdowns, this one only affects the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This came after Democrats walked away from a bipartisan agreement to fund the department amid uproar over President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in Minneapolis.
And even though about 97% of the federal government is funded at this point, a DHS shutdown will still have an impact on everyday Americans — impacts that will become more apparent the longer the standoff continues.
DHS SHUTDOWN EXPLAINED: WHO IS WORKING WITHOUT PAY, WHAT HAPPENS TO AIRPORTS AND DISASTER RESPONSE
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem holds a press conference on January 24, 2026. (Al Drago/Getty Images)
Air travel delays
Disruptions at the TSA, whose agents are responsible for security checks at nearly 440 airports across the country, may be the most serious 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 will 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 gas, selling their blood and plasma, and taking second jobs to make ends meet,” she said of the latest shutdown.
However, it would take some time before TSA funding could cause delays. TSA officers, like other essential federal employees, received back pay once the shutdown was over. Those who didn’t miss their shifts also received a $10,000 bonus for additional relief.
FETTERMAN rejects Democrats, saying the party has put politics over country in the DHS standoff
TSA paychecks scheduled to be issued March 3 could result in agents receiving reduced pay depending on the length of the closure. Through March 17, agents are at no risk of missing a full paycheck.
However, if this happens, Americans could face delays or even cancellations at the country’s busiest airports as TSA agents are forced to quit their jobs and take 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)
Natural Disaster Reimbursement
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is one of the largest and most important recipients of federal funds under DHS.
Office of Response and Recovery deputy administrator Gregg Phillips told lawmakers Wednesday that FEMA has enough funding to continue disaster relief through a shutdown in the immediate future, but that its budget would be stretched in the event of an unforeseen “catastrophic disaster.”
This means Americans affected by an unexpected natural disaster during the shutdown may face delayed federal reimbursements for their homes and small businesses.
Others who have already experienced a natural disaster last year but still haven’t received checks — FEMA is currently working through a billion-dollar backlog — may find aid delayed even further during the shutdown.
“In the 45 days that 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 reducing the backlog. I can’t go faster than we actually are. And if that doesn’t happen, it will stop.”
People are seen outside a wildfire shelter at the Pasadena Convention Center on January 21, 2025. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)
Processing work visas
American business owners who rely on certain types of businesses Work visas Processing times may increase during a DHS shutdown.
That’s because the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) programs operate under DHS and are responsible for processing most immigration applications and temporary visas.
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Most of these programs are fee-funded and are largely unaffected. However, areas such as e-Verify, the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Regional Center Program, Conrad 30 J-1 physicians and non-church employees all rely on funding appropriated by Congress, they said American Immigration Lawyers Association.
USCIS could allow employers to use alternative processes if e-Verify is interrupted during a shutdown. However, it’s not clear how much time it would add to business owners’ daily tasks to find a new way to do this paperwork.
