US Government Partially Shuts Down Due to Homeland Security Budget Dispute
The United States government is in a partial shutdown after funding for several federal departments expired on Saturday, following a Congressional impasse over the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget.
The shutdown was triggered by Democratic senators' refusal to approve a DHS funding bill, following the deaths of two Americans in Minneapolis and Minnesota involving federal agents in a mass deportation operation ordered by President Donald Trump. Democrats are demanding new restrictions on federal agency powers, including a ban on mask-wearing, mandatory body cameras, a strict code of conduct, independent investigations into misconduct, and a ban on mobile patrols targeting illegal immigrants.
The impasse has thwarted Republican efforts to pass a major funding package for several other departments, which was supposed to be approved before the funding deadline expired Friday night.
On Friday, the Senate passed five funding bills through September 2026, as well as two weeks of temporary funding for DHS. However, the package is still awaiting approval from the House of Representatives, which is scheduled to convene on Monday.
The impact of the shutdown is not expected to be felt significantly until early next week. In addition to DHS, full funding has not yet been authorized for the departments of defense, education, labor, health, transportation, and housing and urban development. President Trump has stated his readiness to sign the budget package if approved by the House of Representatives.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought has instructed relevant agencies to proceed with orderly shutdown procedures, hoping the shutdown will be brief.
However, ICE deportation operations are certain to continue, as the agency still has reserve funds from a major budget law passed last year, as well as the government's authority to require employees to continue working during the shutdown.
This shutdown comes just months after the longest government shutdown in US history, which lasted 43 days in late 2025 due to a dispute over health insurance subsidies. (mrv)
Source: Newsmaker.id
