The Homeland Security shutdown is unfolding, and the clock is ticking. A partial federal shutdown has begun as lawmakers clash over proposed restrictions to U.S. immigration enforcement under President Trump. Funding for the Department of Homeland Security expired on Saturday, and Democrats say they won’t approve more money until new limits on immigration operations are in place after the Minneapolis shootings involving Alex Pretti and Renee Good last month.
Negotiations between the White House and Democrats have stalled, leaving DHS funding in limbo. Unlike the record 43-day shutdown last fall, this disruption is expected to be more narrowly targeted: only agencies within the DHS umbrella—such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)—are affected. Depending on how long it lasts, some federal employees may miss paychecks.
However, ICE and CBP are not expected to shut down their core operations. Congress already appropriated substantial funds for these agencies under Trump’s 2025 tax and spending package—roughly $75 billion for ICE and about $65 billion for CBP—funds that finance deportation and border enforcement activities.
Airport security could feel the strain if the stalemate persists for weeks. About 95% of TSA staff are considered essential and will continue screening passengers and luggage, but many will work without pay until funding is restored. That situation compounds financial stress for TSA workers, some of whom are only now recovering from the 43-day shutdown last year.
“Some are just now recovering from the financial impact of the 43-day shutdown,” notes Ha Nguyen McNeill, a senior official serving as TSA administrator. “Many are still reeling from it.”
Why is this happening? In short, a bargaining tactic: Trump agreed to remove DHS funding from a broader spending package to give negotiators more time to pursue changes to immigration enforcement, including a code of conduct for federal agents and a requirement that officers carry proper identification. DHS received temporary funding only through Friday, while the rest of the federal government remains funded through Sept. 30. That means most federal programs stay running, including food assistance, and most federal workers and service members will continue to receive pay on schedule.
Which agencies are affected beyond DHS? The Secret Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) are among the other agencies involved in the stalemate. The majority of Secret Service and U.S. Coast Guard personnel would continue to work, but could face pay gaps if the shutdown lasts longer. FEMA’s ability to reimburse states for disaster relief could be disrupted, some workers will be furloughed, and training for first responders at the National Disaster and Emergency Management University in Maryland could be interrupted.
Impact on workers varies by agency. Each agency determines who is “essential” or “excepted”—both terms effectively mean the employee keeps working, typically without pay until funds are restored. Examples include military personnel, airport security screeners, and law enforcement—though the exact mix can vary by situation. DHS employs more than 270,000 people, with the vast majority deemed essential during a shutdown. In the fall 2025 disruption, about 258,000 DHS employees stayed on the job, while roughly 22,000 were furloughed.
Lawmakers have flagged potential travel disruptions as the shutdown drags on. Senate Republicans have warned of longer wait times and crowded or reduced airport security lanes as staffing tightens. During prior lapses, unpaid TSA workers called in sick or stayed home to cover basic expenses, and one notable consequence was the temporary closure of two security checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport about a month into the outage.
In summary, the situation hinges on whether a compromise can be reached to fund DHS while negotiating immigration enforcement reforms. The broader federal government remains funded for now, but the most visible and immediate effects will be felt at airports, with potential ripple effects on disaster response coordination and federal investigations if the stalemate continues.
If you’re following these developments, you’ll want to watch for updates on whether new immigration enforcement rules gain ground, and how airports, disaster relief programs, and federal workers are affected as the funding picture evolves.
Would you like a quick, plain-language explainer of what counts as “essential” federal workers during a shutdown, with real-world examples from past events?
