A Division of Homeland Safety (DHS) facility in Washington, on February 13, 2026.
| Picture Credit score: AP
The Division of Homeland Safety entered a partial shutdown Saturday (February 14, 2026) as U.S. lawmakers combat over funding the company overseeing a lot of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
1000’s of presidency staff, from airport safety brokers to catastrophe reduction officers, will both be furloughed or pressured to work with out pay till funding is agreed upon by Congress.
On the heart of the price range dispute is the division’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), whose brokers killed two U.S. residents amid sweeping raids and mass protests in Minneapolis.
Democrats oppose any new funding for DHS till main modifications are carried out over how ICE conducts its operations.
Specifically, they’ve demanded curtailed patrols, a ban on ICE brokers sporting face masks throughout operations and the requirement that they get hold of a judicial warrant to enter personal property.
“Donald Trump and Republicans have determined that they’ve zero curiosity in getting ICE underneath management,” Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries stated Friday (February 13, 2026).
“Dramatic modifications are wanted,” Mr. Jeffries advised a information convention. “Absent that, Republicans have determined to close down components of the federal authorities.”
White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt put the blame on the opposition, telling Fox Information that “Democrats are barreling our authorities in the direction of one other shutdown for political and partisan causes.”
However whereas DHS faces a shutdown, ICE itself will stay operational, underneath funds authorized in final yr’s authorities spending invoice.
Senator John Fetterman pushed towards his fellow Democrats, saying: “This shutdown actually has zero affect on ICE.”
The first affect would land on different companies, together with the Federal Emergency Administration Company (FEMA), which oversees emergency response to pure disasters.
The Transportation Safety Administration, which runs airport security, warned on X {that a} extended shutdown might end in longer wait occasions and cancelled flights.
Negotiations stalled
The shutdown can be the third of Mr. Trump’s second time period, together with a report 43-day authorities closure final October and November.
The federal government simply reopened from a smaller, four-day partial shutdown earlier this month, additionally over DHS funding.
Even when all 53 Republican senators vote to fund DHS, Senate guidelines require assist from 60 of the physique’s 100 members to advance the price range invoice, which means a number of Democrats would want to get on board.
In response to the Democrats’ calls for, the White Home stated it was prepared to barter over immigration enforcement coverage.
Senate Majority Chief John Thune referred to as it “a particularly critical provide,” however warned Democrats are “by no means going to get their full want checklist.”
Some concessions had been made throughout the earlier shutdown amid Democratic stress and nationwide outcry after federal brokers shot and killed Renee Good, a mom of three, and Alex Pretti, a nurse who labored with army veterans, in Minneapolis final month.
Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem stated federal brokers within the metropolis would put on physique cameras “efficient instantly” in a transfer that will be later “expanded nationwide.”
The Senate went into recess for per week beginning Thursday (February 12, 2026), however senators could possibly be referred to as again to Washington in case of a fast leap in negotiations.
For the second, nonetheless, talks between the White Home and Democrats look like at a standstill.
Printed – February 14, 2026 11:16 am IST