The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began a partial shutdown early Saturday, February 14, 2026, after Congress failed to reach an agreement on funding legislation, according to reports from the Associated Press and NBC News.
The shutdown impacts a sprawling agency responsible for a wide range of functions, including immigration enforcement, disaster response, and airport security. Lawmakers left Washington for a week-long holiday break without resolving disputes over new restrictions on President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda, as reported by the AP. Funding for DHS expired at midnight Friday, triggering the shutdown.
The impasse centers on Democratic demands for reforms to address concerns about the conduct of federal immigration officers, particularly following incidents in Minneapolis where two U.S. Citizens were shot and killed by immigration officers, NPR reported. Democrats are seeking to cement these reforms into law before agreeing to fund the department, presenting a list of ten demands, though finding consensus has proven difficult.
Some proposed reforms, such as requiring immigration officers to wear body cameras, appear to have bipartisan support. However, Republican lawmakers have resisted other demands, including a prohibition on agents wearing masks to conceal their identities, according to NPR. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has indicated that lawmakers have been told to be prepared to return from recess if a funding deal is reached.
This shutdown is more limited in scope than previous ones, affecting only DHS and not other federal agencies. NBC News reported that an immigration surge in Minneapolis had ended as the DHS shutdown loomed. The shutdown comes as Secretary of State Marco Rubio is attending the Munich Security Summit, an annual gathering of international security figures, where a growing rift between the U.S. And Europe is expected to be a key topic.
The situation is further complicated by scrutiny of Jeremy Carl, President Trump’s nominee for a top State Department post, who is facing bipartisan opposition over past remarks concerning Israel and the Holocaust, as detailed by NBC News. Kathy Ruemmler, the top lawyer at Goldman Sachs, announced her departure amid controversy surrounding her email correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, a matter that has drawn Justice Department scrutiny.
As of Saturday afternoon, neither the White House nor Congressional leaders have issued statements indicating a clear path toward resolving the funding dispute. The DHS website remained operational, but with limited updates regarding the impact of the shutdown on specific services.
