January 1, Senate Leaves Town, DHS Shutdown Looms

Wyatt’s Take

• The Senate left Washington without passing a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security.
• The shutdown will begin Saturday and could cause trouble for air travelers and federal workers.
• Senate leaders may call members back early if an agreement is reached.

The Senate went home for President’s Day weekend without passing money to keep the Department of Homeland Security running for the rest of the year. This means DHS will have to shut down starting Saturday, unless lawmakers and the President come to an agreement.

The Transportation Security Administration warned of travel delays since their workers won’t get paid until a deal is made. There is no word on whether employees will receive backpay.

“The government shutdown will cease pay for all of TSA’s more than 63,000-person workforce and suspend non-essential services,” said Adam Stahl, a senior TSA official. “Over 99% of that workforce resides in communities across the country.”

“Democrats should fund the department and stop punishing our workforce and the everyday travelers they serve,” he added. “A prolonged shutdown could result in significant attrition and increased callout rates of our officers, including noticeable impacts at airports, including delays, longer wait times and canceled flights.”

The shutdown only affects DHS workers, since Congress already approved budgets for other departments. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the main agency in the debate, is expected to keep operating because it has extra funds approved last year.

The Senate plans to meet again on Monday, February 23. Senators could be called back sooner if leaders find a deal to fund DHS.

Keep watching how these debates in Washington hit home for the folks who keep our country safe and our families moving. If you want leaders to truly represent Middle America, make your voice heard — before politicians forget who they work for.

Wyatt Matters

This standoff reminds us that the real costs of gridlock fall hardest on everyday working folks, not the politicians. Communities across the heartland deserve leaders who get the job done and keep America moving.

Full story here