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County consultant says DHS remains unfunded after 40-day impasse, warns of airport impacts
Summary
At the March 30 Alameda County personnel committee meeting, CJ Lake told supervisors the Department of Homeland Security was still unfunded after a shutdown extending beyond 40 days, citing longer airport security lines and possible use of reconciliation or executive action as Congress debates competing measures.
CJ Lake, who delivered the federal legislative briefing to the Alameda County Personnel Administration and Legislation Committee on March 30, 2026, said the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) remained without a final funding agreement after a funding impasse that "is now extended beyond 40 days." Lake said the Senate passed a voice measure that would fund most of DHS while excluding ICE and CBP, and that the House later passed a separate measure funding DHS including ICE and CBP.
Lake told the committee that the competing chamber measures had not been reconciled and that leadership-level negotiations could continue during the congressional recess, though congressional action may be limited until lawmakers return. He described proposals under discussion in Republican circles, including the possible use of reconciliation to fund DHS and related priorities, and noted lawmakers were also discussing including anti-fraud Medicare/Medicaid provisions and voter ID-like provisions as bargaining chips.
On operational impacts, Lake cited hours-long airport security lines caused by reduced TSA staffing and noted that on March 27 the president signed a memorandum to restore pay for roughly 50,000 TSA screening officers "which will likely provide the House and Senate additional time to find an agreement on" DHS funding. Lake said these developments could reduce short-term pressure on negotiations but do not resolve the underlying funding differences.
Supervisor Tam asked whether negotiations would continue during the two-week Easter recess; Lake said leadership-level talks and pro-forma sessions could allow some activity, and that the White House might pursue executive or reconciliation options depending on political dynamics. There were no public comments on the federal update.
The committee did not take formal action on the federal update itself; Lake said he would return with further information as negotiations evolve.
