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Midnight deadline passes, DHS funding runs dry
Cayce Myers joins LiveNOW from FOX to talk about the partial government shutdown. Lawmakers are locked in a standoff over ICE reforms.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is shut down after Congress failed to fund the agency before the midnight deadline.
The partial shutdown is due to deadlock over federal immigration operations, but it also means TSA agents at airports across the U.S. are expected to screen passengers and bags without pay. About 95% of TSA workers are deemed essential personnel and required to keep working. Here’s how that could impact travelers:
Will DHS shutdown affect flights?
Big picture view:
Although TSA is funded through DHS, air traffic controllers are employed by the Federal Aviation Administration, which is fully funded through September. Unlike the record 43-day shutdown that ended Nov. 12, airline passengers shouldn’t have to worry about widespread flight cancellations, though longer security lines are possible if the shutdown doesn’t end quickly. Even a handful of unscheduled TSA absences could quickly lead to longer wait times at smaller airports, especially if there's just a single security checkpoint.
Travelers wait in line at a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, California, US, on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Flight delays are also possible if airlines decide to wait for passengers to get through long TSA lines, and shortages of TSA officers could slow the screening of checked luggage behind the scenes.
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What you can do:
Travelers should plan to arrive early and allow extra time to get through security. You can check security line wait times on most airport websites, but don't wait until the day of a flight to check them.
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Make sure you don’t pack prohibited items in your carry-on bags, as it’s likely to prolong the screening process.
Why is DHS shut down?
The backstory:
Democrats in the House and Senate say they won’t help approve more DHS funding until new restrictions are placed on federal immigration operations after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis last month. Democrats are demanding that ICE agents remove their masks, identify themselves when detaining people, and obtain warrants to make arrests on private property. Republicans have repeatedly rejected the demands.
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DHS shutdown begins as funding expires
A partial government shutdown is underway.
What's next:
Negotiations between Democrats and the White House are ongoing, but Congress is on a 10-day recess. Lawmakers have been told they’ll have to return to Washington early if there’s a deal to end the shutdown.
The Source: This article includes information from The Associated Press and previous FOX Local reporting.