Mullin Warns DHS Emergency Funds Could Deplete by Early May Amid Ongoing Shutdown

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin issued a stark warning on Tuesday regarding the dwindling resources available to sustain payroll during the ongoing partial government shutdown. He indicated that emergency funds, which have been utilized to support worker salaries, could be entirely depleted by early May.

During an appearance on Fox & Friends, Mullin emphasized the unsustainable nature of the department's payroll obligations. "That money is dried up if I continue down this path the first week of May, because my payroll at DHS is just over $1.6 billion every two weeks," he stated. He further noted that after the next paycheck, "There is no more emergency fund, so the president can't do another executive order for us to use money, because there's no more money there."

This situation directly impacts approximately 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees, whose salaries have been temporarily supported through emergency measures initiated by the previous administration last month.

The implications of this shutdown are becoming increasingly evident, as operational disruptions extend beyond political maneuvering in Washington. Reports indicate that U.S. airports may experience severe delays again in May if funding issues remain unresolved. Earlier disruptions had already led to security lines exceeding four hours, marking the longest wait times in TSA's nearly 25-year history. Since mid-February, over 500 TSA officers have resigned.

The current impasse arises from a broader conflict in Congress concerning DHS funding and immigration enforcement policies. In March, despite the Senate passing a bill aimed at restoring funding for most DHS operations—excluding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) funding—lawmakers failed to reach an agreement.

House Republicans proposed a stopgap measure that would fund all of DHS through late May, including immigration enforcement, which Democrats rejected. Central to this deadlock is a contentious debate over ICE and Border Patrol funding. Democrats have insisted that any new DHS funding must include stricter regulations on immigration enforcement, such as requiring judicial warrants for agents entering private residences.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer remarked, "We've been clear from day one: Democrats will fund critical homeland security functions, but we will not give a blank check to Trump's lawless and deadly immigration militia without reforms." Conversely, Republicans are advocating for broader DHS funding without such constraints.

In response to the chaos caused by missed paychecks earlier this year, Trump intervened to ensure TSA workers received their salaries. His late-March emergency order allowed DHS to access available funds to resume payments to airport screening officers; however, this did not address the overarching budgetary issues affecting the department's approximately 270,000 employees. Many other DHS personnel involved in emergency response and coastal defense remain ensnared in the ongoing funding standoff.

Business leaders are now urging Congress to take swift action. Airlines for America CEO Chris Sununu stressed the urgency of the situation, stating, "You cannot ask these TSA officers to go through this a third time." Senate Majority Leader John Thune has indicated that Senate Republicans will advance a budget blueprint aimed at increasing DHS funding over the next three years, yet it remains uncertain whether this initiative will alleviate the immediate payroll crisis.