Federal Workforce Shakeup Threatens Immigration and Travel Services

(UNITED STATES) A historic wave of federal employee resignations is reshaping core parts of the U.S. government, with immigration and travel services bracing for strain as agencies absorb steep staffing losses linked to President Trump’s downsizing push. More than 100,000 federal employees resigned in a single day, and approximately 275,000 are expected to depart through a mix of layoffs and the administration’s deferred resignation program as of September 30, 2025, according to internal tallies cited by unions and agency officials. The departures mark the sharpest one-year decline in the civilian workforce since World War II and raise urgent questions about service delays for millions of immigrants, travelers, and employers across the United States 🇺🇸.

Fee-funded USCIS: A Partial Stabilizer

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) remains a notable exception to the broader staffing decline. Because of USCIS funding that comes mainly from application fees rather than congressional appropriations, the agency continues to accept and process cases for green cards, work permits, and naturalization.

This fee-funded model has kept USCIS operating even as other departments cut staff or freeze hiring. USCIS has stated that most core casework will continue, though some support functions that depend on interagency cooperation could feel pressure if partner offices struggle.

For readers seeking official context on this structure, USCIS explains its fee-funded model.

Strain at Travel- and Border-Related Agencies

The picture is less steady at agencies tied to travel and border operations:

• The State Department’s visa and passport units face loss of experienced civil servants and career consular officers, which can increase wait times for visa interviews and passport issuance—affecting students, business travelers, and families.
• Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, as essential staff, will continue to staff ports of entry. However, cuts in policy, supervisory, training, and IT support roles could slow processing at land borders and airports.
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is expected to maintain enforcement, yet reduced paralegal and clerical support could cause court hearings and administrative reviews to pile up.
• Asylum and refugee casework, already strained globally, risks the largest impact from loss of seasoned adjudicators and support staff, compounding backlogs.

Wider Ripple Effects: Economy, Travel, and Taxes

The staff reductions extend beyond immigration desks and may cause disruptions in several areas:

• Airlines and tourism-heavy states fear weaker inbound travel if visa wait times climb.
• Importers and exporters warn that fewer customs compliance staff could slow cargo flows and inspections, increasing costs and disrupting delivery schedules.
• Inside the IRS, unions report thousands of vacancies, including the loss of 8,600 customer service employees, complicating calls and case resolution—particularly for taxpayers relying on Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) (many of whom are immigrants and foreign nationals).
• Employers hiring on employment visas face uncertainty if onboarding timelines slip due to delayed consular appointments.

Politics, Lawsuits, and Agency Responses

The administration argues the workforce cuts will make government leaner and save about $28 billion annually, a claim federal employee organizations dispute. Unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees, have filed lawsuits challenging the legality and implementation of the deferred resignation program.

• Court challenges will shape how many positions can be permanently eliminated and how quickly agencies can reorganize.
• For now, agencies are shifting staff, triaging urgent tasks, and pausing lower-priority work to keep mission-critical services afloat.

VisaVerge.com reports that agencies connected to immigration are trying to balance budget goals and public demand. In practice, USCIS will keep moving applications while other agencies try to hold the line on front-line services. But even if USCIS stays open, applicants still need consular visas, CBP screening, and functioning courts—all of which depend on the most strained parts of the chain.

The system is only as strong as its thinnest link: even if USCIS processes applications, other agencies’ shortfalls can delay the end-to-end journey.

What Changes Mean for Immigration Services

For families and workers with ongoing cases, USCIS’s fee-backed operations offer some stability. Still, several key caveats apply:

• Applicants filing Form I-485 (permanent residence), Form I-765 (work permit), or Form N-400 (naturalization) should continue to receive receipts, biometrics notices, and interview scheduling.
• Where cases depend on other agencies—security checks or file transfers—hand-offs may slow if partner offices are short-staffed.
• USCIS will likely stress complete filings and prompt responses to Requests for Evidence (RFEs) to reduce avoidable delays.

Consular visa processing is particularly vulnerable:

• U.S. embassies and consulates losing experienced consular officers can see longer interview backlogs.
• Student and business visa categories often face the biggest impact during peak seasons.
• Families waiting for immigrant visas may experience rescheduled appointments if posts have staffing gaps or local conditions complicate scheduling.

At ports of entry, CBP officers will continue primary inspection and secondary screening. The likely bottleneck will be the supporting framework—policy analysts, trainers, IT support, and supervisors—whose thinning can slow secondary checks and referrals, increasing wait times during holiday and summer peaks.

ICE operations will continue, but administrative steps dependent on legal clerks and analysts may move more slowly. Immigration court calendars can bunch up if filings and case preparation lag, pushing hearings further out. Asylum offices, already under heavy caseloads, could lose momentum where experienced adjudicators depart.

On the tax front, reduced IRS staffing may delay ITIN processing, affecting workers who need tax identification for employment verification, banking, or mortgage applications. Fewer customer service representatives also means longer call times and slower resolution of common filing issues.

Practical Steps for Applicants and Travelers

To lower the risk of extra delays, applicants, travelers, and employers can take proactive steps:

• File strong, complete applications. Include all required evidence the first time.
• Respond quickly to RFEs and Notices of Intent to Deny (NOIDs)—missing deadlines invites denials or more delays.
• Track case status online and keep contact details current with the handling agency.
• For consular visas, book interviews as early as possible and watch for appointment changes. Have backup travel plans if timing is tight.
• For border crossings, carry organized paperwork and allow extra time during peak periods.
• For tax matters, apply for ITINs early and keep copies of submissions in case processing slows.

Applicants who plan to submit specific USCIS forms can find official instructions here:
– Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status: Form I-485
– Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization: Form I-765
– Form N-400, Application for Naturalization: Form N-400

While USCIS continues casework, applicants should watch for indirect impacts. An approved work permit still requires physical document production and mailing; green card approvals still rely on biometrics and security checks; and naturalization interviews may be ready to schedule but delayed by local staffing gaps. These risks typically add days or weeks during busy periods rather than halting processes entirely.

Employers relying on international hiring should plan recruitment timelines with extra buffer:

• Start visa sponsorship steps early.
• Coordinate closely with counsel.
• Prepare for possible consular interview rescheduling.
• Stagger cross-border trips to avoid peak-time crowding at airports and land crossings.

Long-term Consequences and Legal Uncertainty

Critics warn that hollowing out the civil service can erode public trust and reduce government capacity to deliver consistent services. Supporters counter that the changes focus agencies on core missions and cut waste. Both arguments may hold partial truth, but the lived reality for applicants will be measured in appointment slots, case status updates, and wait times.

Legal fights over the deferred resignation program are likely to continue, and outcomes could change staffing plans again. Judges may pause parts of the program or set new rules for exemptions—especially for roles tied to national security, health, and public safety. If that occurs, agencies could recall employees or adjust hiring rapidly, triggering another wave of service changes.

For now, the most reliable anchor is USCIS’s fee-funded model, which keeps the agency open even amid budget turmoil. That doesn’t remove every hurdle, but it protects the core pipeline for green cards, work permits, and citizenship applications. Applicants who focus on complete filings, timely responses, and early scheduling will be best positioned to keep plans moving despite an unsettled backdrop.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the coming months will likely bring uneven service levels: steady movement within USCIS, pressure at consulates, slower processing at busy ports, and thinner help lines at the IRS. Families, students, and employers should prepare for a longer runway to reach the same goals.

“Can a government built to serve 330 million people still deliver amid historic losses of staff and experience?” — a union official summed up the stakes. The answer will be written in wait times, backlogs, and the pace at which visas, passports, and immigration decisions cross the finish line. For immigrants, travelers, and businesses, that finish line matters — and in this season of federal employee resignations and reorganizations, every day saved at each step can make all the difference.