The Department of Homeland Security’s funding has lapsed and lawmakers are deadlocked over a proposal to restore it, with Democrats seeking restrictions on the federal agents carrying out President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

Even though the department is shut down, a vast majority of its operations are still being carried out, with most of its personnel remaining on the job without pay, just as they did during last fall’s shutdown. But the longer the standoff lasts, the more travelers and others could feel its effects.

Here’s what we know about the shutdown.

What Is Part of the Department of Homeland Security?

The department is vast and oversees many agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration, the Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Its agencies involved in immigration enforcement — Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement — have been under heavy scrutiny amid the Trump administration’s crackdown, particularly following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis last month.

What Is the Shutdown About?

Democrats, who have few levers to pull with Republicans controlling the House, Senate and White House, have sought to force changes at the department by withholding their votes for funding until Republicans agree to a set of policy changes. The 100-member Senate requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster, so a funding bill cannot pass without some Democratic support.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., the minority leader, labeled ICE a “rogue agency” on Sunday as he called on Republicans to agree to the limits that Democrats have called for.

“Why don’t we rein them in? That’s what the American people are asking Republicans,” he told CNN’s “State of the Union.” “And that’s why they’re going to have to go along with us.”

What Are the Democrats Seeking?

Democrats have pushed for a range of new restrictions on immigration agents, including requiring them to obtain warrants from judges to make arrests in homes, mandating that they show visible identification, and prohibiting face coverings while they are engaged in immigration enforcement operations. Democrats have also pushed for a stricter use-of-force policy and new training standards, as well as an end to roving patrols.

Republicans have objected to many of the demands, which they consider overly burdensome, and maintain that any new guardrails on federal agents should also come with restrictions on so-called sanctuary cities, or jurisdictions with policies that limit cooperation with immigration agents.

Tom Homan, the White House border czar, who took over the on-the-ground operations in Minnesota before announcing last week that the surge of agents to the state was ending, defended the use of masks Sunday.

“I don’t like the masks either, but because threats against ICE officers are up over 1,500% — actual assaults — and threats are up over 8,000%, these men and women have to protect themselves,” Homan said in an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

What Effect Will the Shutdown Have on Agencies?

Their work will not grind to a halt. Department leaders have said that essential missions and functions will continue.

ICE and CBP are expected to be scarcely affected, with officers continuing to work. Nearly 85% of FEMA employees are expected to work without pay through the shutdown, and similar numbers are expected to continue working at other agencies.

What About Travelers?

About 95% of the TSA’s roughly 60,000 employees are required to work during a shutdown.

There is still a risk that it could cause airport delays, though. In the fall, when a shutdown dragged on for a record 43 days, disruptions were minimal at first but grew as time went on, with more absences by air traffic controllers and TSA agents.

This time, lawmakers have already funded the Transportation Department, so air traffic controllers will not be directly affected. But TSA agents remain vulnerable.

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This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

By The New York Times/Victor J. Blue
c. 2026 The New York Times Company