Government Shutdown Hits DHS After Democrats Reject Bipartisan Funding Deal

Dispute over immigration reforms stalls Department of Homeland Security funding

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The third government shutdown in under half a year has officially begun after Democrats and Republicans failed to reach a deal on funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The shutdown affects around 272,000 DHS employees, with 90% continuing to work without pay. Democrats are demanding reforms to rein in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which Republicans have rejected as non-starters.

Why it matters

The DHS shutdown comes at a critical time, with the agency responsible for national security, border protection, and disaster response. The impasse highlights the deep partisan divide over immigration policy and the Trump administration's crackdown, which has fueled tensions between Democrats and Republicans.

The details

Congress has completed roughly 97% of its yearly government spending responsibilities, but a deal on DHS funding has proved elusive. Democrats walked away from an initial bipartisan plan last month after federal law enforcement agents killed two U.S. citizens during anti-ICE demonstrations in Minneapolis. They are now demanding significant reforms to rein in ICE and CBP, which Republicans have long rejected.

  • The shutdown officially began just after midnight on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
  • Congress left Washington on Thursday, February 20, 2026, and is not expected to return until February 23.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president whose immigration crackdown policies have fueled the current funding dispute.

Hakeem Jeffries

The House Minority Leader, who criticized the Republican offer as "unserious" and said the administration has "fallen short" on issues important to the American people.

Chuck Schumer

The Senate Minority Leader, who remained steadfast in his position that the GOP's offer didn't go far enough on reforms to ICE and CBP.

John Thune

The Senate Majority Leader, who expressed optimism that there was a path forward despite the Democrats' blockade.

Angus King

An independent senator from Maine, who said the "fundamental ask" is that ICE abide by the same principles and policies as other police forces.

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What they’re saying

“There are a variety of different areas where clearly the administration has fallen short of doing things that make things better for the American people. Until that happens, unfortunately, it appears that Donald Trump and the Republicans have decided to shut down other parts of the Department of Homeland Security.”

— Hakeem Jeffries, House Minority Leader (1010wcsi.com)

“Again, the only — 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.”

— Angus King, Senator (1010wcsi.com)

What’s next

Senate Democrats and the White House are expected to continue negotiating through the weekend and into next week in an effort to reach a compromise on DHS funding. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has said he would give lawmakers 24 hours' notice to return to Washington if there is a breakthrough.

The takeaway

The DHS shutdown highlights the deep partisan divide over immigration policy and the Trump administration's crackdown, which has fueled tensions between Democrats and Republicans. The impasse raises concerns about the impact on national security, border protection, and disaster response, underscoring the need for bipartisan cooperation to resolve the funding dispute.