Governor Kristi Noem warned a potential DHS funding lapse tied to Democratic demands for ICE reforms could disrupt TSA screening, FEMA disaster and continuity planning, Coast Guard operations and federal cybersecurity efforts. She said ICE makes up roughly 11% of DHS's budget and that the remainder of the department would be inside the "blast radius" of any lapse. Noem and White House officials urged Congress to resolve policy disputes through legislation rather than by withholding emergency funding.
Noem Warns DHS Funding Standoff Over ICE Reforms Could Disrupt TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard And More
President Trump fully backs Department of Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem as Democrats call for her firing, sources told Fox Digital.(Getty Images)
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem warned that a potential lapse in Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding — driven by Democratic demands for changes to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — could have broad, real-world consequences across the department, from airport screening to disaster response and maritime operations.
Funding Deadline And Political Fight
Congress recently separated DHS funding from a larger spending package after House Democrats pressed for immigration-enforcement reforms. DHS is currently operating under a short-term continuing resolution that expires on Feb. 13, leaving the department exposed to a potential funding gap if lawmakers do not reach an agreement.
Travelers make their way through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Noem's Concerns
Noem told Fox News Digital in a phone interview that Democrats are "using families as political weapons" and framed the dispute as more than a routine appropriations disagreement. She argued the fight threatens public safety by jeopardizing the department's ability to carry out core missions.
"This feels like a direct attack on the security of our country, our homeland. And it's almost as though they've gotten so extreme, they don't care if we're out there on the front lines keeping our country safe from terrorists, keeping our country safe from murderers and rapists," she said.
Ripple Effects Beyond ICE
Noem emphasized that ICE accounts for roughly 11% of DHS's budget, meaning a funding lapse tied to ICE reforms would place the remaining 89% of the department inside the "blast radius." DHS comprises some 23 agencies and roughly 280,000 employees whose work touches daily life — including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Secret Service and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
The Coast Guard Cutter Wire, a 65-foot icebreaking tug homeported in Saugerties, New York makes its way through an ice flow.
She warned that furloughs or funding interruptions could strain FEMA's disaster-response and continuity-of-government planning, disrupt Coast Guard missions that keep ports and waterways safe and open, impede TSA screening at airports, and hinder cybersecurity and protective missions carried out by CISA and the Secret Service.
Context And Political Response
Democratic leaders sent a letter outlining 10 demands for ICE reforms that they say should be included in DHS funding legislation. The proposals include limits on enforcement at sensitive locations such as schools, use-of-force standards, increased coordination with state and local officials, and restrictions on certain operational practices.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is seen as FEMA is making preparations for a winter storm set to impact much of the U.S. this weekend.
Noem called the list "extreme" and said some proposed changes — such as requirements for judicial warrants following final removal orders — conflict with current law and established administrative practices.
White House officials and DHS allies have similarly warned that a funding lapse would extend far beyond ICE, pointing to potential disruptions at FEMA, the Coast Guard and other agencies that protect public safety and commerce.
Kristi Noem, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, is seen during an assumption of command ceremony at the U.S. Coast Guard headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026.
What Would Be Impacted
Key areas that could be disrupted by a DHS funding lapse include:
- Airport screening and passenger security operations managed by TSA;
- Emergency response, recovery operations and continuity planning led by FEMA;
- Maritime safety, icebreaking and port access operations conducted by the Coast Guard;
- Cybersecurity monitoring and infrastructure protection by CISA;
- Protective missions carried out by the Secret Service and other DHS components.
Noem urged lawmakers to resolve policy differences through standalone legislation and open debate rather than tying major policy changes to short-term appropriations, warning that a lapse in funding would be "absolutely devastating" to the department's workforce and the services Americans rely on daily.
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