Why it Matters

A partial government shutdown that has now stretched across half of fiscal year 2026 is leaving TSA officers unpaid, CISA cybersecurity operations undermanned, and FEMA grant programs frozen — all as the United States prepares to host the FIFA World Cup and America250 celebrations. The House Homeland Security Committee reconvenes April 22 at 310 Cannon House Office Building for a continuation of its March 25, 2026 hearing on the funding lapse's security consequences, with both parties arriving armed with sharply different accounts of who is responsible.

The DHS shutdown hearing March 2026 launched a public record of those consequences. This session picks up where that one left off.

What the March 25 Hearing Put on the Record

At the original March 25, 2026 hearing, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), vice chair of the committee and chairman of its Special Events Task Force, detailed specific operational damage: more than 400 TSA officers had quit, CISA's cybersecurity posture had deteriorated, and FEMA grant disbursements had stalled. McCaul framed the stakes around the summer's major public events, arguing the shutdown posed direct risks to mass-gathering security planning.

Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), who chairs the full committee for this continuation hearing, noted on March 26 that DHS had by that point been shut down for half of fiscal year 2026, with "record airport lines, TSA officers and other critical personnel going without pay, and our national security at risk." Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-FL) described the 40-day shutdown as "not just a negotiation" but "a threat to our national security."

Democrats on the committee have pushed back on that framing. Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI) announced before the March hearing that he would forgo his own salary for the shutdown's duration, calling on Congress to pass Democratic legislation to fund TSA, the Coast Guard, and FEMA. Rep. Troy Carter (D-LA) highlighted what he described as a disparity in how the shutdown was being administered — with ICE operations continuing while TSA staffing eroded.

The Legislative Backdrop

Four bills have emerged in direct response to the funding lapse. H.R. 8029, the Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act, has already passed the House, providing for DHS employee compensation during appropriations lapses. H.R. 5398, an earlier version of the same concept, was introduced in September 2025. H.R. 7617 goes further, funding DHS administrative expenses during any lapse and requiring the department to remain responsive to congressional offices — a provision that speaks directly to oversight concerns the committee has raised. The broadest vehicle, H.R. 7744, the DHS Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2026, has passed the House and been reported from the Senate, but has not yet been enacted.

The continuation hearing DHS members convene for on April 22 sits squarely in that unresolved legislative space.

Industry Engagement

Lobbying filings from the weeks surrounding the hearing reflect the breadth of industries affected by the funding lapse security disruptions. Airports Council International – North America filed a disclosure on April 16, 2026 covering transportation, homeland security, and aviation issues, reporting $723,226 in lobbying activity. Palo Alto Networks filed the same week, reporting $590,000 in lobbying across defense, homeland security, and cybersecurity issues — areas directly implicated by CISA's reduced operational capacity during the shutdown. CrowdStrike filed a disclosure covering DHS budget and appropriations, reporting $40,000 in activity.

Aviation labor is also engaged. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association filed on April 18, covering aviation, budget, and government operations issues, reporting $60,000 in lobbying. The Federal Managers Association has remained active on federal employee issues throughout the shutdown period.

The Committee and the Continuation

The April 22 session is chaired by Rep. Garbarino, with Rep. McCaul serving as vice chair and Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) as ranking member. The hearing continuation notice was filed with the committee record.

The political dynamic heading into the session is well established: Republicans on the committee have consistently attributed the shutdown to Democratic obstruction, while Democrats have argued Republicans are selectively funding enforcement priorities — namely immigration — while allowing security infrastructure like TSA and FEMA to deteriorate. Rep. Michael Guest (R-MS) met with local TSA agents in early April to document the human cost of the lapse, framing the issue around employee families rather than partisan blame.

What the March 25 2026 hearing began — a formal congressional accounting of what a prolonged DHS funding lapse actually does to the security apparatus Americans rely on daily — the April 22 continuation hearing is set to deepen, with the FIFA World Cup and America250 now weeks closer on the calendar.

Access the Legis1 platform for comprehensive political news, data, and insights.