Congress Ends Partial DHS Shutdown But Leaves ICE Funding Unresolved

Congress finally ended the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this week by approving a funding bill that notably excludes Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). President Donald Trump quickly signed the measure into law, restoring paychecks to thousands of federal workers who had been left hanging for nearly three months.

The shutdown, which began February 14, crippled key DHS functions. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents reported to work without pay, resulting in long airport lines and heightened security risks. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), responsible for responding to natural disasters, also faced operational strains. The crisis exposed the human cost of political brinkmanship and the dangerous consequences of weaponizing government funding.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson initially resisted the bill’s passage because it excluded ICE and CBP, agencies at the heart of the ongoing immigration crackdown. However, Trump’s endorsement pushed Johnson to bring the measure to a vote. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin blamed Democrats for the shutdown, calling it a “Democrat shutdown” and praising federal employees for their “patriotic” service without guaranteed pay.

Democrats, meanwhile, had demanded reforms to ICE, including bans on agents wearing masks to conceal identities, prohibitions on racial profiling, and ending raids on sensitive locations like schools and churches. These “common sense reforms” were non-negotiable for Democrats, who withheld votes on DHS funding until their demands were addressed. Republicans dismissed these demands as unreasonable, deepening the partisan impasse.

With Republicans controlling both chambers, the Senate’s filibuster rule requiring 60 votes stalled broader funding efforts. The Senate had passed a similar ICE-excluding bill in March, but Johnson delayed a House vote for over a month. Now, Republicans aim to fund ICE through budget reconciliation, a complex process that bypasses the filibuster but risks political backlash. Trump has pushed for eliminating the filibuster entirely—a move that could backfire if Democrats regain Senate control.

This shutdown is the latest example of how both parties weaponize government funding to score political points, often at the expense of everyday Americans. While DHS funding resumes, the fight over ICE’s role and accountability continues, with real consequences for immigrant communities and public safety. As Democratic Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren put it, funding “law-abiding agencies” like TSA and FEMA is only the first step; Congress must hold ICE and CBP to “the same standard to which every cop in America is held.”

The partial shutdown’s end is a relief but far from a resolution. The toxic politics around immigration enforcement and government funding continue to threaten democratic governance and public trust. We will keep tracking how this power struggle unfolds and who pays the price next.