Overview
- Homeland Security ordered a stop-travel directive effective Feb. 18 for DHS-funded trips, and FEMA later clarified that travel tied to active disasters will proceed.
- FEMA paused the deployment of more than 300 responders who had been preparing to travel to disaster areas, according to internal messages and reports.
- FEMA’s accessible Disaster Relief Fund is reported at about $9.6 billion after temporary money expired, and at least $17 billion in disaster aid is reportedly under additional review by Secretary Kristi Noem.
- More than 90% of DHS employees are working without pay, with frontline units like TSA, the Coast Guard and the Secret Service maintaining essential operations under strain.
- Talks to restore DHS funding have shown little movement as Congress remains largely out until Feb. 23, and state officials warn prolonged delays could slow reimbursements, grant processing and future disaster declarations.