DHS Partial Shutdown Continues Amid Congressional Funding Dispute

A partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security began in mid-February 2026 after Congress did not approve new appropriations. Legislative efforts since then have not fully restored funding for all DHS agencies.

On February 14, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security started operating under a partial shutdown due to a lapse in congressional appropriations. This development affected several DHS operations and led to ongoing negotiations in both chambers of Congress.

The House of Representatives passed H.R. 7744, a bill to fund DHS for a full year, on March 5, 2026, with a 221-209 vote. However, the Senate did not advance its version of the funding bill, with a procedural vote resulting in 51 in favor and 45 against.

During an overnight session on March 27, 2026, the Senate unanimously moved forward with a funding deal for most of DHS. This measure excluded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and certain parts of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from immediate funding.

What the numbers show

• DHS partial shutdown began on February 14, 2026
• House passed H.R. 7744 by a 221-209 vote on March 5, 2026
• Senate failed to advance its version with a 51-45 procedural vote

The House Freedom Caucus stated on March 27, 2026, that they would not support the Senate-passed DHS funding bill unless it included provisions for voter identification, border patrol funding, and child sex trafficking investigations. These demands contributed to continued disagreement between the chambers.

House GOP members rejected the bipartisan Senate bill to end the DHS shutdown, citing procedural rules that only allow suspension votes on specific days of the week. This procedural limitation prevented immediate consideration of the Senate's proposal.

By April 1, 2026, Republican leaders announced a two-track strategy. The first track involved returning to the Senate plan to fund most of DHS, excluding ICE and Border Patrol, while the second track aimed to address funding for those agencies separately at a later date.

As of early April, funding for ICE and parts of CBP remained unresolved. Congressional leaders continued to pursue separate legislative solutions for these agencies while most other DHS operations awaited restored appropriations.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.