The Department of Homeland Security has gone without congressionally appropriated funding for two weeks, putting strain on an agency that has a wide variety of responsibilities related to the nation’s security.
Democrats have repeatedly withheld the votes necessary to end debate on a bill to fund the agency, as they demand restraints on immigration law enforcement officers after the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Immigration law enforcement agencies, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as Customs and Border Protection, are part of DHS, and as such, are undergoing a lapse in appropriations. Both agencies did receive separate funding under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed last year.
However, the department’s responsibilities also go well beyond border and immigration enforcement.
Here are five other department responsibilities Congress is currently not funding.
Disaster Response
The Federal Emergency Management Agency, the federal government’s agency for disaster response and relief, is under the homeland security umbrella.
FEMA is currently helping Washington, D.C. fix a spillage of hundreds of millions of gallons of wastewater, after the collapse of the Potomac Interceptor sewer line in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Cybersecurity
DHS also plays a major role in handling cybersecurity threats.
President Donald Trump signed a law establishing the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in 2018, and it has since been responsible for helping defend the country against hackers and attacks on America’s technology and infrastructure.
Coast Guard
The Coast Guard performs a variety of roles, from law enforcement to rescue operations.
The agency was transferred from the Department of Transportation into the newly formed DHS in 2003, under the Homeland Security Act.
Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office
The office, established in 2018, attempts to “safeguard the United States against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear” threats, per DHS.
The office seeks to monitor foreign development of weapons of mass destruction and help develop the U.S. defense against potential attacks.
Secret Service
The Secret Service is responsible for protecting the president and vice president and their families, as well as providing temporary protection to presidential candidates, heads of state, and other prominent political figures.
The law enforcement agency also handles security at the Treasury Department and investigates counterfeiting.
Founded in 1865, it was part of the treasury department until 2003, when it was transferred into DHS.
