DHS Shutdown Imminent as Congress Clashes Over Stopgap Funding

Washington is bracing for a partial government shutdown this weekend as the Department of Homeland Security’s funding is set to expire at midnight on Friday. House Speaker Mike Johnson is scrambling to unite a fractured Republican conference that remains deeply divided on how to proceed with the agency's budget.

Senate Republicans, led by Majority Leader John Thune, are advocating for a short-term continuing resolution to keep the department open while negotiations continue. In contrast, hardline House conservatives are demanding a longer extension or a full-year bill to lock in aggressive border policies and leverage leverage over the administration's agenda.

The stalemate has been exacerbated by Democratic demands for new oversight guardrails on immigration enforcement following a controversial incident involving federal agents in Minneapolis last month. Republicans have largely rejected these proposals, arguing that placing restrictions on ICE agents would undermine national security during this period of heightened immigration scrutiny.

A shutdown would immediately disrupt border security operations and suspend federal law enforcement pay, forcing TSA agents and Coast Guard members to work without compensation. Administration officials have warned that even a short lapse in funding could hamper disaster response capabilities and slow down security screening at major airports.

Speaker Johnson faces an uphill battle as the House Freedom Caucus insists on attaching the SAVE Act, a proof-of-citizenship voting measure, to any spending legislation. This demand has complicated the path to a bipartisan agreement, as Senate Democrats have vowed to block any bill that includes such controversial policy riders.

Senate leaders have expressed frustration with the tight timeline, warning that the current two-week window was never sufficient to resolve the complex policy disputes surrounding immigration enforcement. With the clock ticking down, the upper chamber is preparing its own stopgap measure in hopes of forcing the House to act before the deadline.

The looming closure threatens to repeat the chaos of the partial shutdown that ended just days ago, further eroding public confidence in Congress's ability to govern. As lawmakers trade blame over the impasse, the Department of Homeland Security prepares to execute its shutdown contingency plans for the second time this month.

The political stakes are particularly high for Speaker Johnson, who must navigate his slim majority without alienating the conservative wing of his party. His ability to broker a compromise will be a critical test of his leadership as the 2026 midterm election cycle begins to heat up.