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DHS Enters Partial Shutdown After Senate Democrats Refuse to Support Funding Bill

HeadlineFeb 16, 2026

The Department of Homeland Security entered a partial shutdown early Saturday morning after Senate Democrats refused to support a DHS funding bill. They’re pressuring Republicans to agree to tighter controls on immigration enforcement, including requiring federal agents to wear identification, to get judicial warrants to enter private property, and to stop wearing masks. About 90% of the more than 260,000 employees at DHS are deemed “essential workers,” meaning they’ll be required to work, though they could miss paychecks if the shutdown lasts for weeks. That includes nearly 60,000 airport security workers with the TSA and nearly 20,000 staff at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA.

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