DHS Shutdown Day 41: TSA Hemorrhaging Staff and Stalling Technology as CISA Remains in Reactive Posture

The DHS partial shutdown entered its 41st day with compounding effects on IC-adjacent agencies. TSA has lost 360+ officers since February, with callout rates of 25-38% at major airports. Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill testified that counter-drone capabilities, biometric matching systems, and 3D scanning deployments are all stalled. ICE agents received abbreviated training to assist with identity verification at 14 major airports. CISA security assessments of hospitals, power grids, and water systems have been cancelled. AFGE president Everett Kelly characterized the ICE assist as giving a person dying of pneumonia a teaspoon of cough syrup.