With the U.S. Department of Homeland Security entering its third lapse this year, The White House is considering an unprecedented move: using “reconciliation funds” to bypass Congress entirely.
Here are the five key areas to watch:
-
Furlough Extensions: Whether more employees will be sent home or if “essential” statuses will change as the lapse continues.
-
Alternative Funding: If the White House uses leftover FY25 “reconciliation funds” to pay workers (like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the U.S. Coast Guard), potentially extending the shutdown for months without Congress.
-
National Security Risks: Potential disruptions to commercial air travel (TSA), disaster response (FEMA), and cybersecurity (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency).
-
Contractor Strain: Delays in new contracts and unpaid invoices that could drive small businesses out of operation.
-
Political Stalemate: Whether the State of the Union or upcoming midterm primaries will finally force a deal between the White House and Congress.
If the administration uses non-appropriated funds to bypass Congress, this could become the longest and most unusual shutdown in U.S. history.