Partial DHS Shutdown Begins After Funding Lapse
Funding for DHS lapsed at midnight Feb. 13, 2026, leaving most DHS staff working without pay amid negotiations over ICE and CBP restrictions.
CBS NewsPartial government shutdown begins after DHS funding lapse
The GuardianLimited government shutdown likely to linger for at least 10 days as Congress takes break
ABC NewsPartial government shutdown hits DHS: What to know about negotiations, potential impacts
FOX News'It's absurd': DHS shutdown bears down on US as lawmakers jet off to Europe
Overview
A partial DHS shutdown began at midnight on Feb. 13, 2026, after Congress failed to pass or extend Department of Homeland Security funding, Senate records show.
Lawmakers remained deadlocked over new restrictions on ICE and CBP after the Jan. 7, 2026 death of Renee Nicole Good and the Jan. 24, 2026 death of Alex Pretti, officials said.
President Donald Trump said he would be personally involved in DHS funding negotiations, while House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the White House proposal 'unserious,' officials said.
Contingency plans show roughly 91% to 92% of DHS's roughly 272,000 employees would continue working without pay, including about 61,000 TSA agents, about 56,000 Coast Guard personnel and nearly 20,000 ICE staff, officials said.
Lawmakers are scheduled to return Feb. 23, 2026, and officials warned the first missed pay period would arrive in early March with TSA paychecks due March 3 not fully missed until March 17, officials said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present largely neutral coverage, reporting the funding lapse, agency impacts and negotiation positions without editorializing. They foreground official warnings (Coast Guard, TSA, CISA), include partisan quotes from Trump and House Democrats, and attribute evaluative language (e.g., "unconscionable") to sources rather than using it as reporter framing.
FAQ
The shutdown began at midnight on February 13, 2026, after Congress failed to extend DHS funding due to a deadlock over new restrictions on ICE and CBP operations, linked to recent deaths including Renee Nicole Good on Jan. 7 and Alex Pretti on Jan. 24.
Roughly 272,000 DHS employees are affected, with 91% to 92% (about 258,000) continuing to work without pay, including 61,000 TSA agents, 56,000 Coast Guard personnel, and nearly 20,000 ICE staff.
Essential operations continue without pay, but impacts include disrupted disaster reimbursements, delayed cyber protections, suspended non-essential Coast Guard missions, and long-term effects like delayed contracts and hiring for Secret Service.
President Trump stated he would personally involve himself in negotiations, while House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the White House proposal 'unserious'; talks are expected to continue over the weekend with lawmakers returning February 23.
The first missed pay period arrives in early March, with TSA paychecks due March 3 and not fully missed until March 17.
