House Homeland Security Subcommittee presses DHS leaders on budget needs as shutdown drags on

The Homeland Security Subcommittee on Appropriations held a hearing to review the fiscal year 2027 budget requests for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and to press agency leaders on impacts from the current funding lapse. Chair called the meeting to order and set tight deadlines for agency responses and document production.

Ranking Member Henry Cuellar opened by warning against abandoning the annual appropriations process and noted that, "these policies that impact lives, our economy, and our community at large, they're important." He and other members said the unfinished FY2026 DHS bill and the current lapse have left critical operations exposed.

CBP witness Mr. Scott said the agency’s FY2027 request would fund personnel, technology, counter‑drone capabilities and port hardening, and warned that the shutdown has left contractors unpaid and equipment offline. "Thousands of personnel" have gone without pay, he said, and some aircraft and surveillance tools are not being maintained as funding remains unresolved.

ICE Acting Director Lyons told the panel that certain reconciliation funds are limited in allowable uses and do not replace annual appropriations for investigative and oversight functions. He requested support for enforcement and removal operations, citing a request figure for enforcement/removal funding. Lyons also said his investigative and victim‑services contracts are at risk during the funding lapse.

USCIS Director Edlow said USCIS's fee accounts remain robust, citing $7.5 billion in FY2025 fee revenue, and highlighted investments in fraud prevention and E‑Verify. He said USCIS is pursuing stepped‑up vetting and technology to reduce long‑term processing problems while acknowledging increased processing times in some categories.

Members across the aisle pressed for documents and timelines. The chair demanded a copy of a committee‑requested contract for a Montana facility within 48 hours or a written explanation why it could not be provided. Several members urged faster responses to oversight letters and asked that agencies commit to regular, timely follow‑up.

The hearing closed with the chair stressing improved communication protocols and repeating the committee’s expectation that agencies answer follow‑up questions promptly so the subcommittee can complete its appropriations work.