The current funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is scheduled to expire at midnight on February 27, 2015. While negotiations over the budget continue, the underlying dispute over the immigration reform remains unresolved, and it is possible that the agency will be partially shut down.  

According to a release by the New York Times, in the event the agency is shut down, “roughly 30,000 of its 230,000 employees will be furloughed. Transportation Security Administration officers at airports, Border Patrol agents, frontline law enforcement officials and members of the Coast Guard would be required to report to work. But many administrative and front office staff members would be sent home, creating concerns about the day-to-day operations of the department.”

Agencies affected include the Transportation Security Administration, Customs and Border Protection, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Secret Service, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

Expeditors will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they occur. Please contact your local Expeditors office for specific questions and concerns.

The NY Times press release can be accessed here