US: What happens if Homeland Security shuts down?

[webfact]

FACT CHECK: What happens if Homeland Security shuts down?
By ERICA WERNER and ALICIA A. CALDWELL

WASHINGTON (AP) — Spending for the Department of Homeland Security hangs in the balance as Congress fights over immigration matters in the agency's annual funding bill. Without action by Feb. 27, the department's budget will shut off.

To hear Democrats and many Republicans tell it, the result would be unacceptable risks to U.S. security at a time of grave threats worldwide. In reality, though, most people will see little change if the department's money flow is halted, and some of the warnings of doom are as exaggerated as they are striking.

"There are ghoulish, grim predators out there who would love to kill us or do us harm," said Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee. "We should not be dillydallying and playing parliamentary pingpong with national security."

In the view of some House conservatives, though, shutting off the agency's $40 billion budget for a time "is obviously not the end of the world," as Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Ariz., put it, because many agency employees would stay at work through a shutdown.

Who's right, and what would the impact be if Congress were to let money for the department lapse?

Salmon and a few other conservatives are the only ones saying it publicly so far, but the reality is that a department shutdown would have a very limited impact on national security.

That's because most department employees fall into exempted categories of workers who stay on the job in a shutdown because they perform work considered necessary to protect human life and property. Even in a shutdown, most workers across agencies, including the Secret Service, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency and Customs and Border Protection, would continue to report to work.

Airport security checkpoints would remain staffed, the Secret Service would continue to protect the president and other dignitaries, the Coast Guard would stay on patrol, immigration agents would still be on the job.

Indeed, of the agency's approximately 230,000 employees, some 200,000 of them would keep working even if Congress fails to fund their agency. It's a reality that was on display during the 16-day government-wide shutdown in the fall of 2013, when national parks and monuments closed but essential government functions kept running, albeit sometimes on reduced staff.

So what of the sometimes overheated rhetoric, often from Democrats trying to prove a political point?

"If this goes to shutdown," Mikulski said, "this could close down ports up and down the East Coast, because if you don't have a Coast Guard, you don't have the ports. You don't have the ports, you don't have an economy."

But if the department loses its money, the Coast Guard will stay in operation and so will the ports.

There would be one big change, though. Most workers would not get paid until the shutdown ends, a circumstance guaranteed to put pressure on members of Congress hearing from constituents angry about going without their paychecks.

Making employees come to work without pay is "a real challenge" for them, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."

Workers at agencies funded by fees, instead of by congressional appropriations, would continue their functions while still drawing a paycheck.

It so happens that applies to the very employees charged with putting in place the immigration programs at the heart of the political dispute.

Fees pay the salaries of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services workers who would process applications from immigrants eligible to work lawfully in the country under President Barack Obama's immigration policies. Even though Republicans are so determined to shut down Obama's program that some are willing to risk Homeland Security money to do it, it would stay up and running with little impact in the event of a shutdown.

So who would stop working in a shutdown? Mostly administrative staff, including support workers at headquarters and personnel who do training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, employees involved in research and development, and those responsible for operating and maintaining the E-Verify system that allows businesses to check the immigration status of new hires.

In addition, all personnel involved in administering grants would be furloughed, including Federal Emergency Management Agency workers who make grants to state and local governments, fire departments, and others to help them prepare for or respond to various threats and emergencies. That has led to pleas to Congress from the mayors, among others, to keep Homeland Security Department funding going.

EDITOR'S NOTE _ An occasional look at political claims that take shortcuts with the facts or don't tell the full story


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-02-09

[HeijoshinCool]

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US: What happens if Homeland Security shuts down?

Maybe, like the millions of illegals who freely cross the border, my wife could enter the country without being forced to take an armful of vaccinations against her will.

[Scott]

Your wife's vaccinations has nothing to do with Homeland Security.

[Jay Sata]

Maybe he means vacations?

If the shutdown removes the miserable security staff at JFK and Miami that suits me.

They need to learn how to smile and lose a bit of their attitude.

Edited February 9, 2015 by Jay Sata

[Seastallion]

" EDITOR'S NOTE _ An occasional look at political claims that take shortcuts with the facts or don't tell the full story"

I wonder what the rest of that sentence was meant to be?

[bendejo]

Well, it should make the 'smaller government' crowd happy and their world would be a better place. I can already hear Rand Paul babbling about why the best thing the world just happened. Until one of them, or a family member, is a victim of something that wouldn't have happened had the services been in place, in which case it would be Obama's fault. Of course. I can already picture Rand Paul on a split-screen with footage of the disaster, cross-babbling himself in through what is supposed to be explanation.

Babble, great stuff!

[Loptr]

The US did quite well without the DHS until it's inception in 2002... There is so much overlap with the US intelligencia networks, there would be little to no effect on US security... I mean, after all, isn't all the NSA surveillance supposed to be protecting everyone?

[Loptr]

Well, it should make the 'smaller government' crowd happy and their world would be a better place. I can already hear Rand Paul babbling about why the best thing the world just happened. Until one of them, or a family member, is a victim of something that wouldn't have happened had the services been in place, in which case it would be Obama's fault. Of course. I can already picture Rand Paul on a split-screen with footage of the disaster, cross-babbling himself in through what is supposed to be explanation.

Babble, great stuff!

What did you say? I couldn't quite make it out with all the babbling...

[mania]

The so called war on terror has cost American's over 6 Trillion dollars over the last 14 years.

That is 6000....BILLION Dollars

Enough to run Social Security for quite a few years or improve health care etc.

Or better yet not be added to a future tax bill

Combating Terrorism is the excuse given for programs such as Dept of Homeland Security

Yet 5 "events" are the root of the excuse....

9/11, the London transport system bombings, the Spanish train bombing, the Boston Marathon Bombing, and the French Charlie Hebdo rifle attack.

5 events in 14 years???

The actual loss of life in these events is less than the loss of life of our soldiers in the so called war on terror/payback.

A lot of this War On Terror makes no sense at all.

Not Homeland security per se' as some form of tight security on ENTRY to the US of course is good defense.

But anyone traveling knows the bulk of security is at departure not entry

All the rest....the drones...the covert events in other countries...the propping or toppling of governments other than our own

the bases on foreign soil where we were never asked or wanted .....shut it all down.

Save a $ or 6 Trillion & stop wasting our sons & daughters lives

[pizzachang]

The US did quite well without the DHS until it's inception in 2002... There is so much overlap with the US intelligencia networks, there would be little to no effect on US security... I mean, after all, isn't all the NSA surveillance supposed to be protecting everyone?

The main effect would be loss of taxpayer-funded government jobs. There are so many redundant police agencies, that there would be no discernable change in "security".

[taony]

I would feel much safer without the DHS. Just the fact that there is a debate on its funding goes to show its not nearly as necessary as they make it seem. The rhetoric is that we are under threat 24/7. So how could they even contemplate not funding it?

And Miami and JFK do completely suck, although JFK was a bit better the last two times I had to go there.

Edited February 9, 2015 by taony

[maderaroja]

Maybe the spies could take an unpaid vacation and forget about regime change somewhere.

[cumgranosalum]

It would mean that full democracy would return to the US and the admin could stop being so utterly paranoid.

[anon467367354]

if they shut down the DHS, that would be a good time to roll out another false flag and implement

what Obama said we "needed", a domestic army as well equipped as our military to "protect" the citizens.

It would be a great excuse to suspend the constitution, round up people and put them in camps to "feed"

them. The key is protect the US citizens which are those that work for or live within the jurisdiction of US Inc,

aka the Washington D.C. area.

[CNXTim]

The US administration can start spending hard won taxpayers funds on projects that aid the genuine stakeholders. Or nibble away the massive government debt burden.

[cup-O-coffee]

My fear is that if the DHS does not want to shut down, that they may simply give the people a damn good (albeit faux) reason for them to remain in existence; thus returning in force and increasing in size and power.

[Thaiready]

The US saves billions and a useless Government Organization goes away.

[A1Str8]

Nothing will happen. The US has this fixation that everybody is out to do harm to it. Nothing could be further from the truth. In reality people are much more interested in their own stuff than some US.

Sure there are a few groups that would love to attack it but that's more like revenge. What goes around comes around.

[JingerBen]

The US saves billions and a useless Government Organization goes away.

That sounds good but it's not going to happen.

Too many pigs are feeding at the trough.

[Eirene]

The majority of people believe that The Department of Homeland Security was born out of the tragic events of 9/11 when in reality it was a twinkle in their eye in 1998. It was part of the 'The Phase III Report of the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century' chartered in 1998/Embargoed until January 31/2001. [Worthy of a read]

Then came 9/11. It was then implemented following the 9/11 Commisions Recommendations.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a0/NHSA.jpg

Structure of proposed National Homeland Security Agency, February 2001

"Following 9/11, the federal government moved quickly to develop a security framework to protect our country from large-scale attacks directed from abroad, while enhancing federal, state, and local capabilities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from threats and disasters at home. A key element of this framework included the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in March, 2003, bringing together 22 separate agencies and offices into a single, Cabinet-level department[1]."

http://www.dhs.gov/implementing-911-commission-recommendations

[Jungle Jim]

Americans might have some of their freedom back. But don,t worry that will never happen.

[englishoak]

I should think what will happen is....much what went on prior to its inception..............ie not a lot and business as usual.

DHS seems to me nothing more than a stick to scare the crap out of the people...

[daveAustin]

If the shutdown removes the miserable security staff at JFK and Miami that suits me.

They need to learn how to smile and lose a bit of their attitude.

Amen to that. Same at land crossings when I was last there. The difference between to the Canadian immigration and the utter misery of US immigration posts is striking.

How many protection agencies does one country need anyway? Spend the 40B on something useful, like research into desalination of seawater for consumption or green energies.

[spidermike007]

Well, it should make the 'smaller government' crowd happy and their world would be a better place. I can already hear Rand Paul babbling about why the best thing the world just happened. Until one of them, or a family member, is a victim of something that wouldn't have happened had the services been in place, in which case it would be Obama's fault. Of course. I can already picture Rand Paul on a split-screen with footage of the disaster, cross-babbling himself in through what is supposed to be explanation.

Babble, great stuff!

Yes, as we all know the strip searches of 85 year old grandmothers is preventing alot of mischief. And so is the email monitoring of our email. I figure 10% of their resources are going to actual work that may be preventing attacks, and finding bad guys. The rest? Nonsense, foolishness, and making an excuse for an enormous budget, and the over 240,000 people employed there. When you add in the other intelligence agencies, here are nearly 1,000,000 people collecting data on civilians. It is completely out of proportion. It is hyper over reaction. It is paranoia. I am not saying there is not a need to fight the idiots. But, it has to be done intelligently, and asking me to remove my shoes is not serving much of a purpose. There was only one Richard Reid. Scan my shoes. Do not insist that I remove them, and then delude yourself into thinking it is somehow making us all safer.

[JingerBen]

The majority of people believe that The Department of Homeland Security was born out of the tragic events of 9/11 when in reality it was a twinkle in their eye in 1998. It was part of the 'The Phase III Report of the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century' chartered in 1998/Embargoed until January 31/2001. [Worthy of a read]

Then came 9/11. It was then implemented following the 9/11 Commisions Recommendations.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a0/NHSA.jpg

Structure of proposed National Homeland Security Agency, February 2001

"Following 9/11, the federal government moved quickly to develop a security framework to protect our country from large-scale attacks directed from abroad, while enhancing federal, state, and local capabilities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from threats and disasters at home. A key element of this framework included the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in March, 2003, bringing together 22 separate agencies and offices into a single, Cabinet-level department[1]."

http://www.dhs.gov/implementing-911-commission-recommendations

Thanks for that excellent fact-based post.

A lot of things smell fishy in the USA.

[ggt]

A group of gropers would have to find a real job...

[willyumiii]

The US did quite well without the DHS until it's inception in 2002... There is so much overlap with the US intelligencia networks, there would be little to no effect on US security... I mean, after all, isn't all the NSA surveillance supposed to be protecting everyone?

The main effect would be loss of taxpayer-funded government jobs. There are so many redundant police agencies, that there would be no discernable change in "security".

I agree.

I spent 2002-2005 trying to get my Thai wife a visa into the US.

Basicly, I had to provide Homeland security a carbon copy of everything I had to provide to INS and the Department of State.

There really was no difference in what the three separate agencies required.

The three were so good at mirroring each other, more than once, all three agencies misplaced the same documents and required' and all three had me pay to file the same ones again!

In my situation, Homeland security did nothing that INS and the Dept. of State were not already doing.

It is a redundant waste of taxpayers money.

Take the same money and buy each American a good dog. they will be better protected! lol

[PepperMe]

USA opening its borders and closing down homeland security?

Hmmmm...... Now what is going on behind the scenes here?.... another major psychological assault on the American people perhaps?

Need more justification for another huge war in the middle east perhaps?

I put nothing past this lot. Not since the 9/11 inside job.

[wabothai]

HS is not much different from the Thai junta. In Thailand it is the army's law in the US it is an excuse to do whatever "they" please.

The fight against Infringement on human rights and privacy supercedes all !!!!

[elgordo38]

The US did quite well without the DHS until it's inception in 2002... There is so much overlap with the US intelligencia networks, there would be little to no effect on US security... I mean, after all, isn't all the NSA surveillance supposed to be protecting everyone?

You have to create jobs for the hanger ons and the flunkies. Yes it would save tax payers a bundle but who cares about the tax payer. Its all part of the imaginary game of how we are being protected against the big bad terrorist. Just butt out of these countries at war (save another bundle of money its all borrowed anyways) and let them kill each other off. The last man standing will have had his fill of war and be no threat. Quit trying to change a centuries old mentality. You are not the keeper of the worlds morals.