The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will continue collecting tariffs and enforcing immigration policies even if a government shutdown occurs. With government funding set to expire after September 30 unless Congress reaches an agreement, federal agencies have been updating their contingency plans.
According to a DHS document dated September 19 and posted on the agency’s website, most security and revenue operations are considered essential. This means that U.S. Customs and Border Protection will keep collecting tariff revenues during any lapse in funding.
The Trump administration has increased tariffs on many U.S. imports, emphasizing the revenue as a tool for reducing the federal budget deficit. The planning document also states that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is part of DHS, will continue its immigration enforcement activities regardless of whether Congress passes a temporary spending measure.
Nearly 258,000 out of DHS’s 272,000 employees are expected to be classified as essential under the new plan. This figure is higher than last year’s planning documents, when DHS had about 7,000 fewer employees.
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“This story was originally published September 27, 2025 at 5:46 PM.”
