Some Department of Homeland Security employees, including Transportation Security Administration agents, will receive only partial paychecks this week as the department’s funding lapse continues.
The standoff between the White House and congressional Democrats shows little sign of resolution. At issue are proposed restrictions on federal immigration enforcement tactics, which Democrats are seeking in exchange for restoring funding.
“Democrats have submitted a laundry list of demands in order for the government to fund the Department of Homeland Security,” Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY) said on the Senate floor Thursday.
“260,000 people in all working without pay. It’s the Democrats that shut down the Department of Homeland Security, or at least refused to pay them. They’re still working, but they’re not getting paid because of the Democrats,” Barrasso said, adding that “Republicans have offered fair terms for a deal.”
Few details on any compromise have been made public, despite counteroffers exchanged as recently as Thursday, a White House official confirmed on background on Friday.
“Yesterday, the White House made another serious counteroffer. Democrats need to make a move to end the shutdown before more Americans are harmed by a lack of funding for critical services like disaster relief,” the official stated.
Since TSA agents are considered essential government employees, many will continue working without full pay. A similar shutdown last fall led to high absenteeism among screeners.
Democrats have pushed for major reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, including an end to masking and the use of judicial warrants. Despite the demands, ICE is already primarily funded through the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” that Trump signed in July.
“The American people know that ICE needs to be reined in,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said during a press conference earlier this month, accusing Republicans of refusing to compromise.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) criticized the Trump administration over a pause in Global Entry services, calling it a “bullying tactic.”
“The Trump administration is choosing to inflict pain on the public instead of adopting common sense ICE reforms,” he added in the statement.
Other DHS agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard and FEMA, are also affected. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday that “significant portions” of FEMA staff were placed on administrative leave.
“The longer DHS goes without funding, the less prepared our nation will be for threats at the FIFA World Cup and America 250,” Noem posted on X. “This Democrat shutdown directly impacts DHS’s ability to keep Americans safe at these events and our national security.”
The partial shutdown began on February 14, after DHS was separated from a broader government spending package following escalating tensions over immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota.
.png)
.png)
