The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown entered its fifth week after a lapse in appropriations that began when Congress and the White House did not reach an agreement to extend DHS funding by the Feb. 13 deadline, according to the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE).
- Status: DHS has been operating under a funding lapse since Feb. 13, now in its fifth week, NARFE reported.
- Cause: No enacted DHS appropriations or extension was in place by the deadline, leaving the department without funding authority, according to NARFE.
- Workforce impact: The continued lapse is raising concerns about furloughs, pay disruptions, and mission impacts across DHS components, NARFE said.
- Operational risk: Prolonged shutdown conditions can strain staffing, overtime, and continuity of operations, particularly in components with large frontline workforces, NARFE reported.
- What to watch: NARFE said the situation remains tied to congressional action and presidential approval to restore funding.
Brief context
DHS is typically funded through annual appropriations. When appropriations lapse, agencies must determine which functions continue under shutdown rules and which employees are furloughed, based on legal guidance and agency contingency plans. NARFE reported that the ongoing DHS funding lapse is prolonging uncertainty for employees and raising the likelihood of continued workplace disruptions if funding is not restored.
NARFE’s update comes as federal employees and their families track how a shutdown can affect pay timing, leave, and work status—particularly for workers designated as required to work during a lapse. Employees should follow official DHS component guidance and supervisor instructions regarding reporting requirements, timekeeping, and any changes to duty status.
For general shutdown-related federal workforce rules and common misconceptions, see FedBrief’s shutdown explainers: https://fedbrief.org/. For pay and benefits reference tools that can help employees estimate impacts, see FedInfo resources: https://fedinfo.org/.
Source: NARFE News, “Homeland Security shutdown enters fifth week,” published March 17, 2026. https://www.narfe.org/blog/2026/03/17/homeland-security-shutdown-enters-fifth-week/