The ongoing lapse in funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has now become the longest shutdown affecting one of the federal government’s most essential departments. For America’s cities, towns and villages, this is not an abstract federal issue. It is a growing public safety challenge with real consequences on the ground.
The Senate approved a bipartisan DHS funding bill that excludes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and parts of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the early morning hours of March 27, 2026, passing it by unanimous voice vote. The House has not taken up the measure, as House leadership insists that Congress address ICE and CBP funding first. In late April, the Senate also passed a budget reconciliation resolution, 50-48, that establishes a framework to provide $70 billion in funding to ICE and CBP for the next several years through a simple majority process that bypasses the filibuster. On April 29, 2026, the House adopted the Senate budget resolution on a largely party-line vote, 215-211. After advancing the reconciliation process, the House today approved the bipartisan DHS funding bill that excludes ICE and parts of CBP, nearly a month after the Senate passed it.
Local governments rely on strong and consistent federal partnership to protect residents and maintain community resilience. DHS plays a central role in that partnership, supporting disaster response, emergency management coordination, cybersecurity and infrastructure protection. When DHS operations are disrupted, local leaders are forced to navigate increasing risks with fewer resources and less coordination.
Why Does it Matter?
Across the country, those impacts are already being felt. Local officials in coastal communities in Florida and North Carolina report delays in coordination and uncertainty around disaster preparedness planning as hurricane season approaches. In California, jurisdictions facing ongoing wildfire threats are encountering challenges in aligning with federal partners on mitigation and recovery efforts. These are not future concerns. They are immediate barriers to preparedness and response.
This moment underscores a core principle of our federal system: effective governance depends on partnership across all levels of government. When federal operations are disrupted, the burden does not disappear. It shifts to local governments, often without the support needed to meet growing demands.
The strain extends beyond disaster response. Reduced capacity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is limiting support for local governments and infrastructure partners facing increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. Communities in states like Texas and Ohio report slower response times and reduced access to federal technical assistance. At the same time, strain on Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel is increasing security risks and contributing to delays and disruptions in air travel, affecting residents, businesses and local economies.
Compounding these challenges, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is under significant pressure. This fund is the backbone of federal disaster recovery. When it is strained, communities waiting for reimbursements must absorb costs and delay critical recovery efforts. In states such as Georgia and Kentucky, where communities are still recovering from recent disasters, delays are creating additional financial strain and complicating the path to recovery.
America’s cities, towns and villages are the first to respond and the last to leave when it comes to public safety and disaster response. But they cannot do it alone.
A stable, reliable federal partner is essential to maintaining continuity of operations and ensuring coordinated, effective responses to emergencies.
What Local Leaders Can Do Now
Sharing real-world impacts with members of Congress helps ensure federal decision-makers understand the consequences of inaction. NLC will continue to elevate the voices of cities, towns and villages and advocate for the federal support communities need to keep residents safe.
Restoring DHS operations is not just about reopening a federal department. It is about ensuring that local governments have the tools, resources and partnerships necessary to protect their communities and strengthen the nation’s resilience.
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