DHS Shutdown Looms as Lawmakers Attend Munich Conference

Congress fails to reach funding deal before deadline, leaving Department of Homeland Security unfunded as some legislators travel abroad.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The U.S. government entered a partial shutdown at midnight on Friday after Congress failed to reach a funding deal for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The shutdown came as several lawmakers from both parties were already in Germany to attend the annual Munich Security Conference, drawing criticism from colleagues who argued they should have stayed in Washington to resolve the funding impasse.

Why it matters

The DHS shutdown raises concerns about the government's ability to maintain critical national security functions, as the agency is responsible for protecting the homeland from terrorism and other threats. The optics of lawmakers leaving town during an active funding standoff also raises questions about congressional priorities and leadership.

The details

Without a deal in place, Congress left Washington on Thursday after the Senate failed to pass both a full-year funding bill for DHS and a temporary, two-week funding extension. At midnight Friday, with several lawmakers already in Germany, DHS shut down. Both Republican and Democratic leaders warned members to be prepared to return if a deal was reached, but some lawmakers argued that stepping away from negotiations, whether returning home or traveling overseas, was the wrong move.

  • The deadline to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by the end of the week came with a built-in complication: members of both chambers were scheduled to attend the annual Munich Security Conference, with many set to depart by day's end Thursday.
  • At midnight Friday — with several lawmakers already in Germany — DHS shut down.

The players

Eric Burlison

A Republican Congressman from Missouri who criticized the lawmakers' decision to attend the Munich conference during the funding impasse.

John Thune

The Republican Senate Majority Leader who warned members to be prepared to return if a deal was reached, giving senators 24 hours' notice.

Mike Johnson

The Republican House Speaker who allowed a 48-hour window for members to return if a deal was reached.

Chuck Schumer

The Democratic Senate Minority Leader, whom Senator Rick Scott blamed for blocking Republican-led efforts to prevent the DHS shutdown.

Tom Cole

The Republican Chair of the House Appropriations Committee who criticized lawmakers for attending the Munich conference instead of resolving the funding issue.

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What they’re saying

“It's absurd, I hope the American people are paying attention.”

— Eric Burlison, Congressman (Fox News Digital)

“Schumer's what's deciding this. I mean, he's deciding that he's more interested in people going to Munich than he is in funding DHS.”

— Rick Scott, Senator (Fox News Digital)

“I'm not delighted with Republican resistance and unresponsiveness, but it's on them at this point.”

— Richard Blumenthal, Senator (Fox News Digital)

“I've been pretty outspoken to say we need to stay as long as we have to be here to be able to get things resolved so we don't ever have a shutdown.”

— James Lankford, Senator (Fox News Digital)

“There's a certain irony that we would not be here to fund essential services of our government, but we have enough time and energy to go to the Munich Security Conference, which admittedly is a very important international gathering.”

— Joe Morelle, Congressman (Fox News Digital)

What’s next

If an agreement is reached, it would still take time to draft the legislative text and bring the measure to the Senate floor. Lawmakers are expected to continue negotiations throughout the weekend while many are abroad.

The takeaway

The DHS shutdown highlights the ongoing partisan gridlock in Congress, with lawmakers more focused on attending an international conference than resolving a critical funding issue. This raises concerns about the government's ability to effectively address national security threats and the need for stronger leadership and accountability in the legislative branch.