The Department of Homeland Security has entered a critical funding crisis after last-minute negotiations over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) budget allocations collapsed late Friday, leaving much of the agency without operational funds.
According to officials familiar with the matter, the breakdown occurred after lawmakers failed to reach a compromise on ICE funding levels and policy riders attached to the spending bill. The impasse has forced TSA agents and other DHS employees to work without pay at airports across the country, raising concerns about border security and travel safety.
"This is a completely avoidable crisis," said one senior DHS official who spoke on condition of anonymity. "Our agents are showing up to work every day not knowing when they will see their next paycheck."
The funding lapse affects approximately 250,000 federal employees across multiple agencies under the DHS umbrella, including TSA, Customs and Border Protection, and ICE itself. Essential personnel are required to continue working, while other employees have been furloughed.
The shutdown comes at a particularly challenging time, with increased travel volumes expected and ongoing concerns about border security. Airport security checkpoints remain operational, but officials warn that morale among unpaid workers is deteriorating rapidly.
Republican lawmakers have insisted on stricter immigration enforcement measures as a condition for restoring funding, while Democrats have pushed back against what they characterize as politically motivated demands. The standoff reflects broader tensions over immigration policy that have defined Washington politics in recent weeks.
The White House has blamed congressional inaction for the crisis, while congressional leaders from both parties have accused each other of playing politics with national security. No immediate resolution appears likely as both sides dig in for what could be an extended standoff.
This marks the second major funding crisis for DHS in recent years, highlighting the ongoing political battles over immigration enforcement and border security policy that continue to paralyze Washington.