US DHS partial shutdown hits thousands as talks stall
US DHS partial shutdown hits thousands as talks stall
Thousands of DHS workers face furloughs or unpaid work as lawmakers clash over funding, with ICE funding in limbo and FEMA likely to feel the pinch.
The Department of Homeland Security entered a partial shutdown on Saturday as lawmakers fight over funding for the agency that oversees immigration enforcement. Thousands of federal workers—ranging from airport security agents to disaster relief staff—will be furloughed or required to work without pay until Congress agrees on funding.
At the center of the dispute is the department's Immigration and Customs Enforcement, whose operations have been a flashpoint in the broader immigration crackdown. Democrats have demanded major changes to ICE's procedures, including curtailed patrols, a ban on ICE agents wearing face masks during operations, and the requirement that they obtain a judicial warrant to enter private property. In response, Republican leaders argue the government cannot function without funding, even as they push back on reform demands.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said, "Absent that, Republicans have decided to shut down parts of the federal government." White House press remarks placed the blame on opposition lawmakers, arguing that the Democrats are steering the government toward another shutdown. Meanwhile, ICE itself would remain operational under funds approved in last year’s spending bill, while the broader DHS would feel the impact.
The potential shutdown would hit agencies beyond ICE, including FEMA, which is tasked with disaster response and recovery. The disruption threatens to slow disaster relief, border operations, and other essential functions at a time when immigration policy remains a hot-button issue.
With funding talks stalling, a deal to avert a full shutdown remains uncertain, leaving DHS workers in limbo and many Americans watching closely how the stalemate will unfold in the coming days.
