Are TSA workers unpaid during a DHS shutdown?

Yes. TSA screeners are considered essential, so they must work even when pay pauses during a DHS shutdown. They receive back pay once funding is restored. Short gaps hurt morale and can raise call-outs, which may slow screening and extend airport lines if the lapse lasts beyond a few days.

Does the DHS shutdown affect FEMA disaster funding?

It can. FEMA can delay reimbursements to states, local agencies, nonprofits, and contractors during a funding lapse. Projects usually continue, but cash timing slips. Investors should review working capital and receivables for firms tied to disaster recovery to gauge how long they can operate without reimbursements.

What happens to Coast Guard pay if funding lapses?

Active-duty Coast Guard members still report to work, but pay can pause during a DHS shutdown. Back pay follows when Congress restores funding. Contractors supporting fleet maintenance or logistics may face invoice delays, so they should plan for extended receivable cycles if negotiations take weeks instead of days.

Which DHS components remain funded right now?

ICE and CBP remain funded, so core border enforcement functions continue. The sharper near-term risks sit with TSA workers unpaid, Coast Guard pay timing, and FEMA reimbursements. That split means less immediate impact at the border but more operational and cash flow pressure in travel and emergency management-linked activities.

Law and Government

February 15: DHS Shutdown Puts TSA, FEMA Pay at Risk as Talks Drag

ByDanny Kontos February 15, 2026

The DHS shutdown on February 15 puts paychecks for TSA screeners and Coast Guard personnel at risk and could slow FEMA disaster funding. ICE and CBP operations remain funded, limiting border impacts but not travel or emergency cash flow stress. For investors, the key issues are throughput at airports, receivable timing for FEMA and Coast Guard contractors, and the timeline for Congress to restore appropriations. We outline practical signals to watch and steps to protect portfolios if the DHS shutdown moves from days into weeks.