‘Overlooked’ DHS staff sound off on shutdown

Key Points:

• Many Department of Homeland Security (DHS) civilian employees continue to work without pay amid a record-long partial government shutdown, causing financial strain and low morale across various DHS components.
• The Trump administration has redirected funds to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees, but other DHS staff worry this move reduces pressure on Congress to resolve the shutdown.
• Approximately 40% of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) employees and many FEMA and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) civilians remain unpaid, leading to growing debt and concerns about impacts on security clearances.
• Some DHS components have allowed essential staff to telework to ease commuting costs, but communication from leadership about support for unpaid workers has been lacking.
• House and Senate Republicans announced a potential deal to end the shutdown by funding most of DHS while separately funding CBP and ICE, though DHS employees remain divided on who is responsible for the impasse.