The partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security: What’s next, and Trump’s deadline

The Trump administration’s immigration agenda faces its biggest challenge yet in Congress. The partial shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which began on February 14, 2026, has become the longest in the country’s history. Nearly seven weeks after it began, the budget impasse remains unresolved, while the White House resorts to extraordinary measures and Republican lawmakers face growing internal divisions.

Unlike other federal shutdowns, this one affects only the DHS. However, key agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have previously approved multi-year funding, which has allowed core aspects of immigration policy to remain operational.

Why was there a partial government shutdown?

The shutdown stemmed from disagreements over funding for Trump’s immigration initiatives. Shortly after the deaths of two U.S. citizens during immigration operations—Renee Good and Alex Pretti—Democrats refused to approve funding without restrictions on agencies such as ICE and the Border Patrol, while Republicans insist on fully funding them without limitations on agents.

Since then, for weeks, both parties have blocked each other’s proposals in the Senate and the House of Representatives. Although the Senate recently managed to pass a bipartisan plan to fund most of the DHS, it specifically excludes immigration agencies, which has sparked resistance among conservative factions. And the House, led by Republican Mike Johnson, has repeatedly refused to bring that agreement to a vote, including during formal sessions in which no action was taken, thereby prolonging the shutdown.

The two-step plan

In response, Republican leaders and former President Donald Trump have developed a two-step strategy. First, pass the Senate’s plan to partially reopen the DHS; then, push through a second budget package using the reconciliation process—a legislative tool that allows certain laws related to spending, taxes, or debt to be passed with a simple majority in the Senate (51 votes), bypassing the requirement for a 60-vote majority—which would fund ICE and the Border Patrol without needing Democratic support.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has defended this approach as the only viable path, insisting that the second package must be “as limited and focused as possible” to avoid delays. However, within the Republican Party itself, there is resistance to passing any measure that does not include immediate full funding for all DHS agencies.

Impact on workers and services

Although most DHS employees have continued to work, thousands have gone weeks without pay. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents have been particularly hard hit, with reports of rising resignations and absenteeism. This has led to long lines at major airports, with wait times of up to four hours in some cases.

In response, Trump ordered ICE to deploy to more than a dozen airports to cover for workers who have resigned or failed to report for duty. However, since they are not trained to operate security scanners, their ability to provide relief is limited. Nevertheless, Tom Homan, the “border czar,” stated that federal agents could remain there longer, depending on how many TSA workers return to their posts after their paychecks resume on Monday.

Disruptions have also been reported in other services. For example, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) suspended some non-disaster-related activities. On April 2, Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin eliminated a rule requiring that any expenditure exceeding $100,000 be approved directly by his office, which will streamline the use of resources and facilitate FEMA’s relief and recovery efforts.

Meanwhile, the president announced that he will sign an executive order to resume pay for all DHS employees, a measure aimed at alleviating the situation for thousands of workers, but one that bypasses Congress. This decision builds on previous actions, such as the order he issued last week to pay TSA agents, which helped reduce disruptions at airports in recent days.

What’s next?

For now, the fate of the partial shutdown rests with the House of Representatives, which must decide whether to finally vote on the plan approved by the Senate. Although Republican leaders have shown greater unity in recent days, it is unclear whether they will be able to secure the necessary votes. Even if the first step is taken, the second—fully funding immigration agencies through the reconciliation process—could take months and face new internal disputes. Trump has set June 1 as the target date for getting that final package approved.