What to Know About the Homeland Security Shutdown Starting This Weekend
By [Your Name] — Feb. 14, 2026 (AP) — A partial shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is set to begin this weekend after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement to fund the agency before the current deadline, leaving key parts of the federal government without authorized appropriations. (AP News)
Why It’s Happening
Funding for DHS — which oversees immigration enforcement, border security, airport safety and disaster response — expired at midnight Friday as Congress and the White House remained deadlocked. The disagreement centers largely on calls by Senate Democrats for new restrictions on immigration enforcement, including measures linked to controversial operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). (AP News)
Democrats have refused to support new funding without binding reforms such as judicial warrants for certain enforcement actions, expanded use of body cameras and limits on enforcement near schools and hospitals. Republicans and the Biden administration have resisted some of these conditions, saying they could hinder operations. (The Guardian)
What Agencies Are Affected
The shutdown will only affect DHS and its component agencies, since the rest of the federal government has already been funded through September. (khq.com)
Affected agencies include:
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) — airport security screening
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — disaster aid coordination
U.S. Coast Guard — maritime safety and security
Secret Service and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) — protective and cyber missions
Although many of these agencies will continue to operate initially, the lapse in funding means employees may work without pay, and some functions could be delayed or cut back if the shutdown lasts longer. (khq.com)
What Continues and What Might Slow Down
Certain essential functions may still continue under contingency plans:
ICE and CBP enforcement may operate using previously allocated funding and are considered mission‑critical. (Fox News)
Agencies like FEMA could still respond to emergencies, but reimbursement to states and coordination efforts may be disrupted. (khq.com)
TSA screeners and other essential workers will remain on the job but may face working without pay, which could lead to increased sick calls or staffing shortages — especially at airports. (Reuters)
Why It Matters to the Public
A DHS shutdown can affect services that touch everyday life:
Air travel security checks and wait times at checkpoints could worsen if TSA staffing suffers. (Reuters)
Disaster response funding and reimbursements may slow, complicating recovery from storms or emergencies. (khq.com)
Some administrative functions — such as grant programs, training and planning — may be halted. (khq.com)
How Long It Might Last
There’s no clear timeline yet for when DHS funding might be restored. Lawmakers have recessed and may not return until later in the month unless new negotiations or emergency sessions are called. (The Guardian)
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