The Department of Homeland Security entered a partial shutdown in late February 2026 after Congress failed to pass a funding bill that satisfied both parties' demands on immigration enforcement. The standoff has left tens of thousands of federal employees — including TSA agents, Border Patrol officers, and Coast Guard personnel — working without pay for weeks.
The Funding Fight
The Senate passed a DHS funding bill that excluded immigration enforcement provisions, drawing sharp opposition from House Republicans who insisted any deal must include the SAVE Act and voter ID requirements. Multiple compromise attempts collapsed as both chambers traded blame for the impasse.
President Trump signed an executive order directing the DHS Secretary to pay TSA agents immediately, but the order's legal authority was questioned. The move came as airports began feeling the strain — ICE agents were briefly deployed to assist with security screening at major hubs.
A New Secretary Steps In
The Senate confirmed Markwayne Mullin as the new DHS Secretary in late March, replacing the acting leadership that had struggled to manage the crisis. Mullin immediately faced pressure to negotiate a resolution, working with Senate leaders on a two-track plan to reopen the department while preserving enforcement priorities.
The Deal Takes Shape
By early April, Republican leaders in both chambers announced a framework to end the shutdown. The two-track approach would pass a clean funding bill to reopen DHS immediately, while addressing immigration and voter ID measures through separate legislation. As of April 3, 2026, the deal awaits final votes in both chambers.