A partial government shutdown began early Saturday after funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) expired, the result of a political standoff over immigration enforcement policies.
Here’s what led to the shutdown — and what it means.
Why did DHS shut down?
The funding lapse stems from a dispute between President Donald Trump and Senate Democrats over new limits on federal immigration enforcement.
Democrats have refused to support additional DHS funding unless Congress adopts new guardrails on immigration agents, including a code of conduct and requirements that officers clearly identify themselves during operations. The push follows the fatal shootings of two civilians in Minneapolis during immigration enforcement actions last month.
At Democrats’ request, DHS funding was separated from a broader government spending package to allow time for negotiations. That temporary funding expired Friday at midnight. When talks failed to produce a deal, the department entered a shutdown.
The rest of the federal government remains funded through Sept. 30.
What’s closed?
In practical terms, very little fully shuts down — but some services are curtailed.
Roughly 20,000 DHS employees could be furloughed, primarily in administrative or support roles. At the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the agency’s ability to reimburse states for disaster relief costs is disrupted, and some coordination functions are scaled back. Training programs for first responders are also expected to pause.
Administrative offices across DHS components may close or reduce services during the funding lapse.
What’s still operating?
Most frontline national security and law enforcement functions continue.
Agencies that remain largely operational include:
-
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
-
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
-
Transportation Security Administration
-
U.S. Secret Service
-
United States Coast Guard
About 95% of TSA employees are classified as essential and will continue screening passengers at commercial airports nationwide. However, they will work without pay until funding is restored.
Immigration enforcement operations are also expected to continue largely uninterrupted. A 2025 tax-and-spending law provided approximately $75 billion to ICE and $65 billion to CBP — funds that remain available despite the shutdown.
What does this mean for travelers?
In the short term, airport screening continues as normal.
If the shutdown stretches on for weeks, however, financial strain on TSA workers could lead to staffing shortages. During last year’s 43-day shutdown, unpaid TSA employees increasingly called out sick, leading to longer wait times and temporary checkpoint closures at some airports.
Lawmakers have warned similar disruptions could emerge if the funding lapse drags on.
What happens next?
Congress is currently out of Washington for the Presidents Day recess and is not expected to vote again until lawmakers return later this month.
That means the shutdown could last at least several days, and potentially longer, depending on whether negotiations over immigration enforcement changes resume.
For now, DHS remains partially shuttered — with administrative functions paused, disaster reimbursements slowed and essential national security operations continuing without pay for thousands of federal workers.
