A partial government shutdown could begin Saturday, Feb. 15, if Congress and the White House do not finalize a stopgap funding deal before the current funding deadline, with large parts of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) at risk of disruption, according to The Washington Post.
- Deadline: Funding for DHS and other agencies is set to lapse at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, triggering a partial shutdown absent new appropriations or a continuing resolution (CR), The Washington Post reported.
- Sticking point: Negotiations have hit a stalemate over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policy and funding provisions, which has slowed progress toward a deal, according to the Post’s Federal Insider report.
- Agencies affected: The Post reported the potential shutdown would hit major DHS components, raising the prospect of furloughs for many employees whose jobs are not legally exempt.
- Operations: Excepted employees—including many roles tied to national security, law enforcement, and protection of life and property—would generally continue working, but could face delayed pay until funding is restored, the Post noted.
- Congressional posture: Lawmakers and administration officials were still discussing last-minute options, but the ICE-related impasse has complicated agreement on a short-term funding measure, according to the Post.
- Employee planning: DHS components typically issue shutdown guidance identifying who is excepted, who is furloughed, and what activities continue; the Post reported agencies were preparing for that possibility.
Brief context
Congress has relied heavily on short-term CRs in recent years to avoid shutdowns while broader appropriations negotiations continue. When funding lapses, agencies must follow the Antideficiency Act, which restricts federal spending and generally requires agencies to halt non-excepted work.
For DHS, shutdown impacts can be uneven. Some frontline functions may continue under “excepted” status, while mission support, training, procurement actions, and administrative services can slow or stop. Even where operations continue, contractors and grant recipients can see delays if funding authority is interrupted.
Federal employees affected by a shutdown typically fall into three categories: excepted (working without immediate pay), furloughed (not working), or exempt (funded outside annual appropriations). Employees should monitor official DHS component guidance and supervisor instructions as the deadline approaches. For background on how shutdown status can affect pay and leave, see FedBrief’s explainer: https://fedbrief.org/ (shutdown coverage and policy analysis).
Source: The Washington Post (Federal Insider), “Congress, Homeland Security shutdown,” published Feb. 12, 2026. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/12/congress-homeland-security-shutdown/