Security Shutdown Stop

AMBER LI
Staff Writer

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was founded in 2002 to prevent terrorism, protect citizens, respond to disasters, manage U.S. borders and facilitate customs and exchange including administering and enforcing immigration laws. According to the National Journal, after President Obama announced his executive plan to stop the deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants, Republicans proposed a bill that would thoroughly fund the department, but only if it also obstructed the President’s action. According to USA Today, if was not funded thoroughly, it would have shut down by the end of February.

Basically, the bill would have shut down Homeland Security and possibly would have threatened the safety of U.S. citizens to stop Obama’s plan. Fortunately, the shutdown was averted and on March 4, Congress passed legislation to fund the DHS for the rest of the year without restricting the President’s plan in any way. Yet if the department did shut down, the most essential agencies within the it, including the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Secret Service and the Coast Guard, would continue to work, but they would not be paid. The stopping of financing would make it harder for the working DHS employees to efficiently respond to disasters and possibly allow the United States to become vulnerable to crime and acts of terrorism.

Shutting down the DHS would have been unfortunate for the families of the department’s employees and even more so for American citizens who depend on their service. Although the shutdown threat was seriously considered, thankfully it was not carried out and department employees were able to carry on with their work and get paid for it.