Partial Government Shutdown Continues Over DHS Dispute/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ A partial government shutdown is underway after lawmakers failed to agree on Department of Homeland Security funding. Democrats are pushing for stricter oversight of immigration officers following fatal shootings in Minnesota. The White House and Republican lawmakers say they won’t accept proposed operational restrictions.
DHS Partial Government Shutdown 2026 Quick Looks
- Partial shutdown began Saturday over DHS funding
- Dispute centers on immigration enforcement oversight
- Democrats seek ID requirements, body cameras, warrants
- White House rejects mask removal mandate
- 90% of DHS employees working without pay
- ICE and CBP operations continue uninterrupted
Deep Look: No Clear Resolution as DHS Funding Dispute Triggers Partial Government Shutdown
A partial federal government shutdown entered its third day Monday with no breakthrough in negotiations between congressional Democrats and the White House over funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
The funding lapse began Saturday after lawmakers failed to pass legislation to finance DHS operations through September. At the center of the standoff is a dispute over oversight and operational rules for federal immigration officers.
Congress remains in recess until Feb. 23, and neither side has signaled a willingness to compromise.
Immigration Oversight at the Core of Dispute
Democrats are demanding changes to how immigration enforcement operations are conducted, particularly after the fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Alex Pretti and Renee Good during enforcement activity in Minneapolis last month.
Among the proposals: requiring immigration agents to clearly identify themselves, remove face masks during operations, display unique identification numbers, wear body cameras and obtain judicial warrants before making arrests on private property.
White House border czar Tom Homan said the administration would not agree to several of those conditions, particularly the removal of masks.
“I don’t like the masks, either,” Homan said during an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” But he defended their use, arguing that officers must protect themselves amid threats, harassment and doxing.
Democrats Call Demands ‘Common Sense’
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats are seeking standards similar to those followed by law enforcement agencies nationwide.
“These are what every police department in America does,” Schumer said, questioning why Republicans oppose what he described as basic accountability measures.
However, Sen. Markwayne Mullin said he supports expanding body camera use and improving training but opposes mandating mask removal. He cited concerns that exposing officers’ identities could put them and their families at risk.
“What are you going to do, expose their faces so you can intimidate their families?” Mullin said during an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Sen. Katie Britt, a Trump ally, criticized Democrats for walking away from negotiations. She had advocated for a short-term extension of DHS funding to allow talks to continue.
DHS Operations Continue — Mostly
The shutdown affects several DHS agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Secret Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Despite the funding pause, immigration enforcement activity is expected to continue largely uninterrupted. That’s because President Donald Trump signed a 2025 tax and spending measure that allocated billions in additional funds to ICE and CBP, allowing deportation operations to proceed.
Approximately 90% of DHS employees are expected to remain on duty during the shutdown, though they will do so without pay until funding is restored. Prolonged delays in paychecks could create financial strain for thousands of federal workers.
Last year’s government shutdown lasted a record 43 days, underscoring the potential consequences of a prolonged stalemate.
Immigration Policy Remains Central to Trump Agenda
Immigration enforcement has been a defining issue of Trump’s presidency. The administration says it has deported more than 675,000 migrants since Trump returned to office and claims an additional 2.2 million individuals have “self-deported.”
Republican leaders say the president will not retreat from what they describe as a mandate to secure the border and enforce immigration laws nationwide.
“President Trump is not going to back away from the mission,” Britt said, emphasizing continued border security and interior enforcement as top priorities.
For now, with Congress away and both sides entrenched, there is no clear path to resolving the DHS funding impasse — leaving federal employees in limbo and the partial shutdown ongoing.
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