Partial Government Shutdown Affects DHS as Immigration Dispute Derails Bipartisan Funding Agreement

Government Shutdown Begins as DHS Funding Expires Amid Immigration Dispute

A partial government shutdown officially began at midnight Saturday, marking the third federal funding lapse in less than six months as Democrats and Republicans failed to reach agreement on funding for the Department of Homeland Security amid disputes over President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

Unlike previous shutdowns, this one affects only a single department—DHS—which represents about 3% of federal spending. Congress successfully funded approximately 97% of government operations, but negotiations over DHS funding collapsed after Democrats walked away from a bipartisan framework developed last month.

The shutdown will impact the nation’s third-largest Cabinet agency, which employs nearly 272,000 workers across multiple critical security operations. According to the department’s contingency plan, about 90% of DHS employees will continue working during the funding lapse, though many will do so without pay until the shutdown ends.

DHS, established in 2003 following the September 11 terror attacks, oversees numerous essential security agencies including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Secret Service.

Among those working without immediate compensation will be approximately 64,000 TSA agents who screen airport travelers and 56,000 active-duty, reserve, and civilian Coast Guard personnel. These employees are expected to receive back pay once funding is restored.

The political impasse stems from Democrats’ demands for significant reforms to immigration enforcement agencies following an incident in Minneapolis where federal law enforcement agents killed two U.S. citizens during anti-ICE demonstrations. Democratic lawmakers are now insisting on new restrictions on ICE and CBP operations, including bans on agents wearing masks and requirements for judicial warrants before pursuing suspected undocumented immigrants—conditions that Republicans have long considered unacceptable.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries expressed frustration with the situation, stating, “It’s our expectation that we will respond to the unserious offer that Republicans have made that clearly omits things that need to happen.” He added, “Unfortunately, it appears that Donald Trump and the Republicans have decided to shut down other parts of the Department of Homeland Security.”

Despite the Trump administration sending what it characterized as a compromise proposal on Wednesday night, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democrats maintained that the offer fell short of their requirements for meaningful immigration enforcement reforms.

“The fundamental ask is that ICE abide by the same principles and policies of every other police force in the country, and if we can get there, then we can resolve the problem,” said Senator Angus King, an Independent from Maine who caucuses with Democrats.

Meanwhile, Republican leaders expressed optimism that negotiations could still yield results. Senate Majority Leader John Thune noted, “Every iteration of this gets a step closer, because I think the White House is giving more and more ground on some of these key issues. But so far, they’re not getting any kind of response from Democrats.”

Most lawmakers left Washington on Thursday and aren’t expected to return until February 23, though Thune promised to give members 24 hours’ notice to return should a breakthrough occur. Similarly, House Speaker Mike Johnson has told representatives to be prepared to return within 48 hours if the Senate reaches a deal.

The White House and Senate Democrats are expected to continue negotiations through the weekend and into next week, but neither side has indicated significant movement toward compromise as the shutdown begins to affect DHS operations across the country.