Over 30,000 US Department of Homeland Security personnel will be forced to take a furlough if Congress fails to fund the department by month's end, an official said.

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said it is wrong to require people to work without pay, and by doing so, would make them less effective in their jobs.

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"I am on Capitol Hill now virtually every working day talking to Democrats and Republicans about the importance of a fully funded Department of Homeland Security in these times in particular," said Johnson.

He also reminded Congress that his department interacts with the American public more than any other departments at airports and ports.

Johnson said the department only has funds until February 27 as part of the "cromnibus". 

"Cromnibus" is a combination of long-term spending bill and a short-term continuing resolution aimed to fund the government through 2015.  

But the lawmakers did not include the DHS in the agencies that will receive long-term funding.

"As long as we're on a continuing resolution, that in and of itself creates uncertainty about how we go about our Homeland Security missions," Johnson said.

The Republicans want to fund the DHS for a shorter period so they can wage a new battle against President Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration. 

GOP lawmakers had said a bill that will fund the agency beyond February must include riders that will prevent Obama's executive actions from taking into effect - particularly the deferment of deportations for many illegal immigrants.

But Johnson said it is not fair to block the department's funding at the expense of the people.

"Let's have that debate, but don't tie that to funding public safety at Homeland Security for the American people," he said. "We need a fully funded department right now."

The DHS currently has about 230,000 people. The 30,000 workers who may be furloughed are mostly administrative staff.

TagsDHS, furlough, budget cut, budget stalement, Obama, Executive action, immigration