Shutdown Logic: Billions on Paper, Zero Access in Reality

This episode takes a closer look at the government shutdown, reaching its sixth day on Monday, and the viral claim that agencies like DHS, ICE, and Border Patrol are “funded through 2029.” Eri breaks down how the so-called Big Beautiful Bill really works, explaining in plain terms why the money may exist on paper but can’t actually be spent without Congress’s yearly approval — leaving billions locked behind bureaucratic doors while the government stands still.

#GovernmentShutdown #BudgetBreakdown #DHSFunding #BigBeautifulBill #Accountability

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
Hello, andwelcome to the
Vlogging Pod.
I came acrossa video by
Brenna Perez,that's
@perezbrennaon TikTok, and
it honestlyblew my mind.
Her take onDHS and CBP
funding was sosharp and so
clear that Iwanted to diginto it

(00:23):
myself. Iwanted to makesure I
understood itcorrectly and
explain it ina way thatanyone I spend
time withcouldunderstand it
too. Becauseonce you hearit, you're
going to beblown away.
Right now, thegovernment isshutting down.
And by Monday,it'll be six
days. And eventhougheverything is

(00:45):
frozen, peopleonline keepsaying that
agencies like
DHS, ICE,AndBorder Patrol
are finedbecausethey'realready funded
through 2029. They're saying
this moneycame fromwhat's called
the BigBeautifulBill. And you
might rememberthat bill from
one of ourearlyepisodes. Itwas a huge

(01:06):
spending planthat handedout billions
of dollars todifferentparts of the
government. ICE and Border
Patrol got abig slice of
that, about 46and a half
billiondollars. Andthe bill said
that moneycould stayavailable
until 2029.
But here's thecatch. Thegovernment's

(01:27):
money year iscalled thefiscal year,
and that endedon September
30th. Thatmeans as of
October 1st,the new money
year, orfiscal year,
for 2026,
started. Andsince Congress
hasn't passeda new spending
plan this yearyet,Those

(01:49):
agencies can't
use that 2026
money. So even
though there'smoney sittingin Border
Patrol'saccount, youcan't touch it
right now. It's likehaving awallet full of
cash, but thestore won't
let you takeit in untilsomeone signs
off. Themoney's there,
but they don'thavepermission to

(02:09):
spend it. Thatstays
availableuntil 2029,
aligned withthe big,beautifulbill. which
just means themoney won't
disappear, butit'll sitthere and
wait. Itdoesn't mean
that BorderPatrol can'tspend it every
year, butCongress has
to say yes.

(02:32):
That's theproblem. Thegovernmentshut down
becauseCongressdidn't agreeon a new plan,
so for now,that money islocked up.
Agencies arestuck waiting,workers are
either unpaidor sitting at
home. Allbecause theyneed the
approval thatdidn't happen
in time. Asfor who

(02:53):
controls that$46 billion,it's tied
directly toBorder Patrol
for specificprojects like
walls, roadsand border
systems. DHS
can move smallamounts around
and inside itsown programs,
but nobody,not even the
administration,can just take

(03:14):
that money anduse it forsomething
else. Thatwould break
federal law. So when you
hear that DHSor ICE are
funded through2029, that's
only halftrue. The
money there,but it's on
paper. Unless
Congress isthe green

(03:36):
light for thisnew year, it
might as wellbe sitting ina locke vault.
Sources forthis podcastcome from
Department ofHomelandSecurity
AppropriationsAct 2025. Gov
Congress Gov
DHS FY 2026CongressionalBudget
JustificationDepartment ofHomeland
Security DHSProceduresRelated to a

(03:58):
Lapse inAppropriationsMarch 2025
Department ofHomeland
Security DHSPrepares for
UnprecedentedSpending SurgeUnder the Big
Beautiful BillFederal News
Network. Thankyou forlistening.
Until nexttime, bye bye.