1657 Leeward

NARFE NEWSLINE:

Leeward Oahu Chapter 1657

President’s Newsline Report,

February 24, 2026 

As of February 21. 2026, Congress has finalized the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Federal budget, with President Trump signing a $1.2 trillion appropriations package on February 3, 2026, to fund most government operations thru September 30, 2026. This came about after a 43-day partial shutdown that began on Oct. 1, 2025, and a series of continuing resolutions (CRs), with a final package (H.R. 7148) was passed. February 3, 2026, package provides full-year funding for Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Financial Services, State, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Fy26 appropriations process, which concluded on February 3, 2026, relied on a mixture of 12 separate bills and minibus packages to avoid a full, long-term shutdown. 

 Due to President Trump agreeing to Democrats’ request that Homeland Security Funding be removed from the broader spending package to allow more time for negotiations over demands for changes to immigration enforcement, like a code of conduct for federal agents and a requirement that officers show identification, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was funded only through Feb. 13, 2026, by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026. The rest of the federal government is funded through September 30, 2026, so most federal programs are unaffected by the latest shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. Therefore, food assistance, and pay for most federal workers and for service members will continue uninterrupted. 

The funding lapse of the Department of Homeland Security includes the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Secret Service, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. All the Transportation Security Administration, about 95% of their employees are deemed essential, so they will continue to scan passengers and their bags at the nation’s commercial airports. But they will work without pay until the funding lapse is resolved. As the Dept. of Homeland Security shutdown progresses, TSA workers may begin to call in sick or take unscheduled absences which could lead to longer wait times for passengers to get through airport security to board their planes. The vast majority of employees at the Secret Service and U.S. Coast Guard will continue to work, though they could also miss a paycheck depending upon the shutdown’s length. At the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the shutdown will disrupt the agency’s ability to reimburse states for disaster relief costs. Some workers will be furloughed, limiting the agency’s ability to coordinate with state and local partners, and training for first responders at the National Disaster and Emergency Management University in Maryland will be disrupted. 

The work of ICE and CBP will mostly continue unabated during the shutdown because President Trump’s bill passed by the Republicans last year provided ICE with about $75 billion and CBP with $65 billion so those agencies will continue their deportation operations as negotiations continue to improve their code of conduct, and requirements for officers to show their identification. 

NARFE Leeward Oahu Chapter 1657 has successfully submitted IRS form 990-n (e-postcard) for FY 2025. Our Chapter was reinstated as a nonprofit corporation by submitting the IRS Form 1024. Hopefully, our Chapter 1657 can continue to submit the IRS Form 990-n (e-postcard) for many years to come. 

Hawaii State Federation is Celebrating their 50th Anniversary on Oct. 14, 2026Please plan to attend HISF’s 50th Anniversary on October 14, 2026, at the Ala Moana Hotel from: 10:00am to 2:00pm for $25.00 for NARFE Members; and $48.00 for non-NARFE members. The $48.00 can also be used for the person to become a NARFE member, with 1 free one-year membership in a local NARFE Chapter.                             

 Registration is Now Open for FEEA’s 6th Annual Feds in Motion Challeng

Registration is officially open for FEEA’s 6th Annual Feds in Motion Challenge! Join us from May 1st to June 6th, 2026, and add movement to your day, connect with colleagues, and make a difference by supporting FEEA's essential programs for federal families.

Learn more and sign up today! https://runsignup.com/.../Alexandria/FedsInMotionChallenge

NAFRE Chapters are Assisting with Chapter Membership Dues Payments from some Life NARFE Members

Our Chapter 1657 By-Laws states that Life NARFE members who belong to our Chapter, who became Distinguished NARFE Members (have 20 years of NARFE membership) after Jan. 1, 2014, will continue to pay Chapter dues of $5.00 per year. So, I’ve sent out notices to those Life NARFE Members who will need to continue to pay Chapter 1657 dues. The Chapter Dues collection for the other Chapter 1657 members is managed by NARFE. Please don’t forget to pay your Chapter 1657 dues, as our Chapter relies on   Chapter Dues payments for our Chapter activities, and functions. 

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Our next NARFE Chapter 1657 Zoom Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 11:00am.

Submitted by: 

Chieko Higuchi, President

NARFE Chapter 1657