The politicians did not reach an agreement. The paralysis of the Department of Homeland Security has begun
Why did the paralysis of the Department of Homeland Security begin?
How many Department of Homeland Security employees will continue to work?
Which agencies will continue their activities despite the shutdown?
When are the House of Representatives and Senate scheduled to resume work?
DHS funding expired at midnight Friday. The resort includes, among others: Immigration and Border Protection (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Despite the shutdown, the ministry's activities, which the administration perceives as necessary, will continue. For example, TSA, FEMA and the Coast Guard will continue to operate, but employees of these agencies will be paid only after funding is guaranteed to the department. It is estimated that 90 percent from 272 thousand people employed by the ministry will go to work.
In turn, ICE will not be affected by the shutdown at all, as it has guaranteed financing of $75 billion. thanks to the “big, beautiful” budget bill passed by Congress in 2025. CBP is similarly funded.
Dispute over the actions of immigration services
As part of negotiations with Republicans, Democrats demanded, among other things, that agents not cover their faces with masks during immigration operations, have ID badges, be prohibited from entering homes without court orders, and be obliged to wear cameras on their uniforms. DHS chief Kristi Noem has already agreed to wear cameras.
The White House presented a counterproposal to the opposition, but it was not approved either. The parties accuse each other of leading to a partial shutdown, which is already the third one in President Donald Trump's term.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer published a recording on Friday on X, in which, among other things, federal agents knock people to the ground and use pepper spray on them. “This is not America. That's why Democrats voted NO on further funding for ICE. And we will continue to do so until ICE is tamed and the violence ends,” he said.
— We are talking, but we have to protect law enforcement agencies, the president told reporters on Friday, accusing Democrats of “going crazy.”
It is not known how long the paralysis will last. The House and Senate are scheduled to resume on February 23, but members of Congress may return to Washington earlier.
