A public safety expert is warning that the ongoing partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security could hamper the federal government’s ability to respond quickly to potential terror threats inside the United States — especially as tensions with Iran rapidly escalate.
Jeffrey Halstead, a retired police chief in Fort Worth, Texas, and former Homeland Security commander for the Phoenix Police Department, said global conflicts have historically increased the likelihood of extremist activity targeting Americans.
Speaking with Fox News Digital, Halstead warned that the current conflict in the Middle East could encourage fringe terrorist actors or radicalized individuals to act.
“We’ve seen historically that any time there is a conflict, especially in the Middle East with escalating tensions, military action and now a declaration of war, there is a significant impact,” Halstead said. “It escalates the mindset of some of these outlying or outlier terrorist entities.”
Halstead said the situation becomes even more concerning when federal agencies responsible for coordinating national security efforts are hampered by a funding dispute.
“With the current Department of Homeland Security shutdown, if something were to occur here in the United States, there could be some significant delays,” he explained. “FEMA and other very, very critical divisions of the federal government are basically shut down.”
The warning comes as authorities continue investigating a deadly shooting in Austin, Texas, that may have ties to extremist motivations.
The attack occurred early Sunday morning at a bar in downtown Austin, leaving two people dead and 14 others injured. The suspect, identified as 53-year-old Ndiaga Diagne — a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Senegal — was also killed.
Investigators say the suspect appeared to be wearing a sweatshirt that read “Property of Allah” along with an undershirt displaying the Iranian flag. Authorities later recovered a Quran from his vehicle, while an Iranian flag and images of Iranian regime leaders were reportedly found at his residence.
Law enforcement officials are examining the shooting as a potential act of terrorism.
The attack came shortly after the United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes against Iran on Saturday, a campaign that reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with other top figures in the regime. The strikes have triggered escalating tensions across the Middle East.
Halstead warned that such geopolitical events can influence lone actors already susceptible to radical ideologies.
“When these incidents overseas happen that are terror-related, it does instill in the mindset of some of these lone wolf-style actors to take action,” he said.
Halstead also warned that the U.S. could become a more attractive target in the months ahead if the conflict continues, particularly with major events approaching.
International World Cup matches scheduled in the United States and preparations for America’s 250th anniversary celebrations could draw global attention — and potentially the attention of those seeking to carry out attacks.
He also cautioned that government shutdowns can create operational problems beyond politics.
“Sometimes there is reduced staffing in some of these critical agencies, and some of the agencies aren’t being funded at all,” Halstead said. “This will delay and possibly impede some of that critical intelligence that needs to be in the hands of local police.”
Halstead stressed that timely intelligence sharing between federal agencies and local law enforcement is essential for preventing attacks and protecting high-profile targets.
JUST IN: Sec. Kristi Noem confirms Democrats are TRAITORS because they have kept DHS shut down for WEEKS
We should nuke the filibuster and reopen it OURSELVES!
“The latest Democrat-led shutdown of DHS is RECKLESS, it’s unnecessary, and it undermines the American national… pic.twitter.com/s7mPbinY5h
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 3, 2026
JUST IN: Sec. Kristi Noem confirms Democrats are TRAITORS because they have kept DHS shut down for WEEKS“If that intelligence is delayed or ignored, it could be very, very catastrophic,” he warned.
Still, Halstead noted there is currently no evidence linking the Austin attack directly to the government shutdown. Meanwhile, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said federal authorities remain vigilant.
“I am in direct coordination with our federal intelligence and law enforcement partners as we continue to closely monitor and thwart any potential threats to the homeland,” Noem said in a statement.
Republicans, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana, argue that the rising global tensions make restoring DHS funding urgent.
“Following the successful strikes on Iran and the FBI’s warning of elevated threats here at home, it is dangerous for Democrats in Washington to keep the Department of Homeland Security shut down,” Scalise wrote on X.
Some Democrats, however, dispute the claim that the shutdown is affecting national security readiness. Sen. Angus King of Maine said he sees no connection between the Iran conflict and DHS funding negotiations.
“I don’t think there’s any relationship between FEMA and Iran — or the Coast Guard, for that matter,” King said.
Halstead suggested the dispute reflects a familiar pattern in Washington.
“This is probably some of the worst infighting I think I’ve seen in almost 40 years,” he said.
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