The DHS partial shutdown took effect Saturday after Congress failed to approve funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security before the fiscal deadline, deepening a political standoff over immigration enforcement reforms and leaving thousands of federal workers temporarily unpaid.
Lawmakers departed Washington without passing a fiscal 2026 spending measure for the department, making DHS the last major federal agency without full-year funding through Sept. 30. The lapse follows weeks of negotiations centered on Democratic demands for tighter controls on immigration enforcement activities carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.
Despite the funding gap, the vast majority of DHS operations are expected to continue uninterrupted. More than 90% of the agency’s roughly 272,000 employees are classified as essential and will remain on duty, though many will not receive pay until Congress acts.
President Donald Trump said Friday that discussions were ongoing and indicated he would take part in negotiations. He criticized Democratic proposals aimed at imposing new limits on immigration agents, arguing the measures could undermine law enforcement operations.
Democrats counter that the reforms are necessary to align federal immigration agents with standards commonly applied to local police departments, particularly in the use of force and the execution of searches and arrests. The dispute intensified following fatal shootings involving immigration agents during protests in Minneapolis earlier this year, events that triggered widespread public scrutiny and calls for accountability.
Even without new appropriations, key immigration enforcement programs are positioned to continue operating. ICE and CBP benefit from a substantial funding stream authorized under the “One Big Beautiful Bill” enacted in July, which directed more than $135 billion toward immigration and border enforcement efforts. That funding provides a cushion for ongoing deportation initiatives and border security programs during the shutdown.
Democrats have limited leverage to curtail ICE and CBP activities through the funding lapse alone. According to DHS contingency plans, more than 93% of ICE and CBP personnel will continue working. About 44,500 DHS employees are funded through separate appropriations and will continue receiving paychecks, while other law enforcement personnel are expected to receive compensation under alternative funding authorities.
The shutdown also affects agencies within DHS such as the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. However, core missions tied to national security and public safety are classified as essential and will proceed.
FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund remains funded at levels sufficient to sustain operations for weeks, with billions of dollars available to respond to natural disasters and emergencies. Experts estimate that, absent a major catastrophe, the agency’s available funds could last approximately two months.
Rachel Snyderman, managing director of the economic policy program at the Bipartisan Policy Center, said the immediate public impact is likely to be minimal because so many DHS roles are deemed critical. However, she cautioned that prolonged uncertainty could erode morale and lead to staffing challenges if the impasse stretches on.
Air travel disruptions are not expected to mirror previous shutdowns that snarled flights due to air traffic controller shortages, since the Federal Aviation Administration falls under the Department of Transportation and has already secured funding for the fiscal year.
However, Transportation Security Administration officers — who operate under DHS — will continue working without pay. If the shutdown extends for weeks, travelers could encounter longer security lines as absenteeism potentially rises among unpaid personnel.
The funding standoff hinges on Democratic proposals to reform immigration enforcement practices. The measures include requiring agents to remove face coverings during operations, mandating body cameras, tightening warrant requirements for searches and arrests, and strengthening use-of-force policies. Republicans have largely resisted those provisions, framing them as restrictions that could hamper federal agents and compromise border security.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said discussions had yielded some progress on specific proposals, including reconsideration of mask policies for agents conducting operations. But the broader package remains stalled, and only one Senate Democrat supported the funding bill before lawmakers recessed.
Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire said the absence of firm guardrails leaves communities concerned about potential enforcement actions expanding to additional cities. She argued that reforms are necessary to restore public confidence in DHS operations.
The DHS lapse arrives months after a 43-day government shutdown — the longest in U.S. history — disrupted federal operations late last year. President Donald Trump also presided over a 35-day shutdown during his first term, underscoring how budget disputes have repeatedly unsettled Washington.
Unlike broader shutdowns that shutter national parks or halt IRS services, this episode is confined to DHS. All other federal departments have secured funding through the remainder of the fiscal year.
With Congress in recess and negotiations ongoing between the White House and Senate Democrats, the timeline for resolving the DHS partial shutdown remains unclear. Lawmakers are scheduled to return later this month but could be called back sooner if a compromise emerges.
For now, border enforcement, counterterrorism operations, disaster response functions and protective services will continue largely as normal. The most immediate consequence will be financial strain on employees required to work without pay — a familiar hallmark of government shutdowns.
As political leaders trade blame over immigration enforcement and public safety, the durability of DHS operations may hinge less on logistics and more on whether Congress can bridge its widening divide over the future of federal immigration policy.
Reuters/CNN
