Coast Guard chief warns DHS shutdown will 'cripple morale'
- - Coast Guard chief warns DHS shutdown will 'cripple morale'
Terry Collins, USA TODAYFebruary 14, 2026 at 12:13 AM
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With the federal government on the verge of another shutdown, the Coast Guard's top official pleaded with lawmakers this week not to defund the Department of Homeland Security, warning it will not only prevent paychecks but also hurt morale.
"Shutdowns cripple morale," Vice Adm. Thomas Allan, the Coast Guard's acting vice commandant, testified during a House Appropriations Committee hearing on Feb. 11. "The Gunner’s Mate manning a weapon in the Strait of Hormuz should not have to worry if their family will be able to pay rent while being shadowed by Iranian vessels.
"Our aviation survival technician deploying from a helicopter into treacherous seas should not have to worry if their family can buy groceries this week," Allan continued.
More: Why ICE won't cease operations even if Homeland Security shuts down
protesting against Trump's surge of immigration enforcement actions.Pictured here, Demonstrators gather for a protest calling for the removal of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Jan. 30, 2026 in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Protests were held across the United States in response to ICE enforcement activity.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>After the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by federal immigration agents (ICE), communities across the U.S. are protesting against Trump's surge of immigration enforcement actions.Pictured here, Demonstrators gather for a protest calling for the removal of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Jan. 30, 2026 in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Protests were held across the United States in response to ICE enforcement activity.
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After the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by federal immigration agents (ICE), communities across the U.S. are protesting against Trump's surge of immigration enforcement actions.Pictured here, Demonstrators gather for a protest calling for the removal of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Jan. 30, 2026 in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Protests were held across the United States in response to ICE enforcement activity.
">After the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by federal immigration agents (ICE), communities across the U.S. are protesting against Trump's surge of immigration enforcement actions.Pictured here, Demonstrators gather for a protest calling for the removal of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Jan. 30, 2026 in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Protests were held across the United States in response to ICE enforcement activity.
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Hundreds of people gather to protest ICE at the corner of Palafox and Garden Streets in downtown Pensacola, Florida, on Jan. 30, 2026.
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Hundreds of people gather to protest ICE at the corner of Palafox and Garden Streets in downtown Pensacola, Florida, on Jan. 30, 2026.
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Penn High School students participate in a walkout protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Mishawaka, Indiana.
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Penn High School students participate in a walkout protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Mishawaka, Indiana.
">Penn High School students participate in a walkout protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Mishawaka, Indiana.
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Protesters gather at City Hall in response to recent actions by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly referred to as "ICE," and the presence of Flock cameras in the community and Indiana University campus, in Bloomington, Indiana, on Jan. 30, 2026.
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Protesters gather at City Hall in response to recent actions by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly referred to as "ICE," and the presence of Flock cameras in the community and Indiana University campus, in Bloomington, Indiana, on Jan. 30, 2026.
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" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/nGciJt0aoNnYxCsav7bN1Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD03ODI-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/d79e7c2187fb74f810fd8556bfa1003d class=caas-img>
A Penn High School student confronts a man in a car line at the school who was shouting, "Let's go ICE!" as students were marching past during a walkout protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Mishawaka, Indiana.
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A Penn High School student confronts a man in a car line at the school who was shouting, "Let's go ICE!" as students were marching past during a walkout protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Mishawaka, Indiana.
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Protesters gather at City Hall in Bloomington, Indiana, on Jan. 30, 2026, in response to recent immigration enforcement actions by the government.
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Protesters gather at City Hall in Bloomington, Indiana, on Jan. 30, 2026, in response to recent immigration enforcement actions by the government.
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1 / 33'ICE Out' protests spark marches, confrontations across US
After the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good by federal immigration agents (ICE), communities across the U.S. are protesting against Trump's surge of immigration enforcement actions.Pictured here, Demonstrators gather for a protest calling for the removal of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Jan. 30, 2026 in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Protests were held across the United States in response to ICE enforcement activity.
Allan's comments came two days before Congress attempts to strike a deal on Homeland Security funding. If lawmakers fail to act before midnight on Feb. 13, DHS would enter a partial shutdown, potentially causing havoc across disaster response, border security, and travel.
Shutdown looming: Homeland Security shutdown nears after funding bill stalls
A shutdown would affect agencies including the Coast Guard, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Transportation Security Administration.
The impasse focuses on immigration enforcement as Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, continue pushing for tighter ICE warrant requirements, for federal agents to be unmasked, stricter use-of-force standards, and prohibiting immigration enforcement operations in "sensitive locations" such as schools and churches, among a litany of demands.
However, Senate Republicans contend there is little room for compromise, as Senate GOP Leader John Thune of South Dakota has said he plans to introduce a short-term continuing resolution, but no vote has been scheduled.
'Or else': Government shutdown or ICE accountability? Senator says that's 'bottom line'
Still, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, said Republicans have been negotiating in good faith.
"The White House has continued to show it's committed to taking actions on its own," said Thune said, referring to the Trump administration's Feb. 12 decision Feb. 12 to scale back its immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota. "Democrats are never going to get their full wish list. That's not the way this works."
The standoff conjures thoughts from last year's 43-day shutdown – the longest in American history.
A shutdown could also limit some Coast Guard activities
Allan reiterated that not only would a shutdown potentially interrupt pay for the Coast Guard's 56,000 active-duty, reserve, and civilian members, but the move would also shutter DHS, even though the Coast Guard would continue its overseas work with the military and handle other critical missions.
He also said that a shutdown of even a few days not only affects pay and morale, but also the Coast Guard’s ability to recruit and retain at a time when the agency is struggling with staffing shortfalls.
"This is not a distant administrative issue," Allan said during his testimony. "The uncertainty of missing paychecks negatively impacts readiness and creates a significant financial hardship for service members and their families."
A view of the U.S. Capitol dome on day two of a partial government shutdown in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 1, 2026.
Allan also added that "the ripple effects cause delays in vessel inspections, financing, and regulatory approvals that can cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars every week," translating to "higher prices for Americans everywhere."
Homeland Security Secretary Kristin Noem used funds from the Trump administration's "One Big Beautiful Bill" to pay the Coast Guard during the last government shutdown, but it's unclear if a similar move will occur this year.
More: National Guard troops have left 3 cities. Where do they remain?
The uncertainty left Allan unsettled as he was seeking a resolution. He added that "short-term solutions only provide temporary relief," and said no one in the US military "should be forced to go through this uncertainty from paycheck to paycheck."
He hopes that a long-term deal gets done.
"The work our crews perform is dangerous and challenging," Allan said. "Our people deserve the resources they need to perform their duties safely and efficiently. These jobs require dedication, focus, and attention to detail.
Contributing: Zachary Schermele, Bart Jansen, and Zach Wichter, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coast Guard chief warns against Homeland Security shutdown
Source: “AOL Breaking”
