Washington — The Department of Homeland Security officially ceased operations at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, following Congress’s failure to approve a funding bill before a temporary measure expired, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to CBD. Democrats had insisted on reforms to curb federal immigration enforcement, but negotiations with the Republican Party reached an impasse.
Lawmakers had sought several policy changes after the Minneapolis shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by immigration officers last month. Proposed measures included mandatory body cameras for agents, stricter use-of-force standards, improved identification for DHS officers, judicial warrants for private property entry, and limits on detaining individuals without first verifying citizenship. Democrats also opposed searches or detentions based on race, language, accent, or occupation.
With no approved funding, certain DHS operations are now suspended, though the wider public impact may remain limited unless the shutdown extends beyond the Presidents Day weekend. DHS guidance states that only “exempt” activities, such as law enforcement and maritime protection, are permitted during a lapse in funding. Employees performing duties essential for “safety of human life or protection of property” must continue working, even without pay, as well as those whose roles are critical for executing the president’s constitutional powers.
The shutdown affects multiple DHS components, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Coast Guard, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, among others. Approximately 13% of the federal civilian workforce falls under the department’s purview, with most required to work without immediate compensation, according to data from DHS and the Office of Personnel Management.
Russ Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, instructed DHS to “execute plans for an orderly shutdown” in a letter on Friday evening, noting that the administration will continue seeking “good-faith, bipartisan solutions.”
Most DHS employees are expected to continue working despite the funding gap. According to the department’s September 2025 contingency plan, nearly 92% of DHS staff, around 249,065 of 271,927 employees, are considered exempt. They will not receive paychecks during the shutdown but are eligible for retroactive compensation once funding resumes. Over time, the number of active workers may decrease as unpaid employees take leave or fail to report to duty.
Air travel operations are only partially affected. Air traffic controllers, funded through the Department of Transportation, are fully operational, but TSA officers will work without pay. Depending on the length of the shutdown, airport security staffing could decline, potentially leading to longer security lines for travelers.
Immigration enforcement operations are expected to continue, supported by $165 billion allocated under last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including $75 billion for ICE and $65 billion for Customs and Border Protection. The failed DHS funding measure would have provided $64 billion in discretionary funding for fiscal year 2026, including $10 billion specifically for ICE. Vought confirmed that immigration enforcement and border security functions are sufficiently funded for continued operation.
The U.S. Secret Service will maintain protective responsibilities for the president and vice president, and other White House security functions will continue. The Coast Guard, the only military branch under DHS, will suspend training activities but continue search and rescue operations.
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