Turning to issues in Washington, Johnson said it is vital that Homeland Security receive full funding past the February 27 end of a continuing resolution. Republicans want to cut funding that would help implement President Barack Obama's executive actions granting legal status to millions of illegal immigrants. Johnson argued that the continuing resolution itself, which simply keeps funding at current levels, is hurting the department's ability to fund new initiatives and quoted FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate as saying 80 percent of his workforce would have to be furloughed. Host Dana Bash challenged Johnson on threats that Homeland Security would have to drastically cut its numbers, quoting him from the 2013 government shutdown threat when he said that nearly 90 percent of Border Patrol agents, 85 percent of ICE agents and 93 percent of TSA officials have to come to work without pay, but would still be on the job. Johnson insisted there would be a significant drop in service and that 30,000 employees would have to be furloughed, while the rest would be forced to work without pay. Sounds like blackmail to me. Johnson throws us a crumb of information about ISIS cells within our borders that are poised for attacks. Then, he strategically links the need for continued Homeland Security surveillance with the need for continued funding - which would be implemented through the same resolution that will also fund Obama's amnesty program for illegals. So, IOW, the GOP will be to blame for future homeland terrorist strikes if they strike down or cut funding for Obama's amnesty program.
Per an NBC story the other day, if DHS gets “shut down” later this month, 85% of DHS staff continue to work because they’re considered “essential personnel”. 15% nonessential are probably admin overhead, not critical to DHS’s mission.
So how much would this hurt national security again?