U.S. Rep. Mark Takai on Wednesday called for an end to the “political impasse” that he says is holding up funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“If this is not resolved, approximately 200,000 workers nationwide will work without pay. Or they will be furloughed. Or, at worst, they will choose not to work,” Takai said. “Hawaii, as an island state, relies entirely upon our airports and harbors to bring in our essential supplies and keep our local economy running.”

Takai added, “Also as an island state, we must take extra care to safeguard our local environment. If funding were to lapse for the DHS, the implications for our home state and all of our nation could be severe.”

Rep. Mark Takai and transportation officials at Honolulu International Airport.

Photo courtesy of Rep. Mark Takai

Takai, a Democrat, made his remarks at Honolulu International Airport with officials from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration and the Hawaii Department of Transportation standing with him.

The department will run out of funding on Feb. 27 if Congress cannot agree on funding. Some DHS employees would continue to work in the event of a shutdown, they would work without pay.

According to Takai’s office, the employees include:

• more than 40,000 Border Patrol agents and Customs and Border Patrol officers;
• more than 50,000 TSA aviation security screeners;
• more than 13,000 Immigration and Customs Enforcement law enforcement agents and officers;
• more than 40,000 active duty Coast Guard military members; and
• more than 4,000 Secret Service law enforcement agents and officers.

DHS funding legislation passed the House but stalled in the Senate because Democrats object to language in the legislation that reverses President Barack Obama’s recent executive order on immigration.

Thus far, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said Republicans will not allow another partial government shutdown, but Speaker John Boehner has indicated otherwise.

Earlier this month, U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii took to the Senate floor to insist that her colleagues resist the “manufactured crisis” and “political games” leading to the funding impasse. Of the 200,000 employees that would be affected, she said, about 2,000 work in Hawaii.