Lawmakers and the White House showed no signs of compromise over the holiday weekend over the oversight of federal immigration officials, a fight that led to a freeze on funding for the Department of Homeland Security. The partial government shutdown began on Saturday as congressional Democrats and President Donald Trump’s team failed to reach an agreement on legislation to fund the department through September.
Democrats are demanding changes in how immigration operations are conducted after federal officers shot and killed U.S. citizens Alex Pretty and Renee Goode in Minneapolis last month.
Unlike last fall’s record-breaking 43-day shutdown, this one is narrow, affecting only agencies under the Department of Homeland Security, including the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. But thanks to billions of dollars in funding provided by Trump’s 2025 tax and spending cuts law, ICE and CBP’s work will largely continue unabated.
up to date:
Trump says peace commission will unveil $5 billion in Gaza reconstruction commitments
He said the commitments will be formally announced when board members gather in Washington for their first meeting on Thursday.
He did not elaborate on which member states had committed to reconstruction or would contribute personnel to SFOR.
Rebuilding the Palestinian territories will be a difficult task. The United Nations, World Bank and European Union estimate that rebuilding the area will cost $70 billion. Few places in the Gaza Strip have escaped unscathed by more than two years of Israeli bombardment.
The ceasefire agreement calls for the creation of an armed international stabilization force to maintain security and ensure the disarmament of the militant Hamas group, a key demand by Israel. So far, few countries have expressed interest in participating in the proposed force.
On October 10, a US-brokered ceasefire sought to end more than two years of war between Israel and Hamas. While the fiercest fighting has subsided, Israeli forces have launched repeated airstrikes and often fired on Palestinians near military-controlled areas.
It is unclear how many of the more than 20 peace committee members will attend the first meeting.
▶ Learn more about the Peace Council and its upcoming meetings
Iran temporarily closes Strait of Hormuz for new round of indirect talks with US
This is the first time that Iran has announced the closure of this important international waterway, through which 20% of the world’s oil passes, since the United States began threatening Iran and sending military assets to the region. It marked a further escalation in a week-long standoff that could spark another war in the Middle East.
At the start of the talks, Iranian state media announced that live ammunition had been fired into the strait and that it would be closed for several hours due to “security and maritime concerns.”
Iranian state television later said the talks ended after nearly three hours.
Iranian state television earlier reported that the talks would be indirect and focus only on Iran’s nuclear program rather than domestic policies.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to use force to force Iran to agree to curbs on its nuclear program. Iran said it would launch an attack in response. Trump also threatened Iran over the killing of protesters.
▶ Learn more about talks between Iran and the United States
No clear path to end partial government shutdown
The partial government shutdown began Saturday as congressional Democrats and the White House failed to reach an agreement on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security through September.
Congress is in recess until February 23, with both sides appearing to have their own agenda. The impasse affects agencies including the Transportation Security Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Coast Guard, Secret Service, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Democrats want to change the way immigration operations are conducted after federal officers shot and killed two U.S. citizens last month. They also want to require immigration officers to wear body cameras and require a judicial warrant when arrests are made on private property.
White House border czar Tom Homan said the administration is unwilling to agree to Democratic demands that federal officers clearly identify themselves, remove their masks during operations and display unique identification numbers.
Work for ICE and CBP continues unabated as Trump’s tax cuts and spending cuts law starting in 2025 provide the agencies with billions of dollars to spend on deportation operations.
▶ Learn more about the shutdown situation
Trump says Reverend Jesse Jackson, who died Tuesday, ‘will be missed’
Trump recalled Jackson in a social media post, calling him a “good guy with great character, courage and ‘street smarts.'”
The Republican president also described Jackson as “very gregarious – a man who truly loved people!”
“He loved his family very much and I send them my deepest sympathy and condolences. Jesse will be missed!” Trump wrote.
What impact will it have on workers?
Each federal agency can designate which employees are “essential” or “excepted,” in which case both mean the same thing. They continue to work during the shutdown, often without pay until government funding is restored.
Some examples of “essential” employees include military personnel, airport security personnel, and law enforcement personnel. The range ranges from positions deemed critical to public safety to positions authorized by law to continue even without new funding.
Most of the more than 270,000 employees employed by the Department of Homeland Security are considered essential, meaning they will remain on the job even during the government shutdown. More than 258,000 DHS employees fell into this category during the fall 2025 shutdown, with about 22,000 of them, or 5% of the agency’s workforce, on furlough.
Which institutions are affected?
Other affected agencies include the Secret Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The vast majority of Secret Service and U.S. Coast Guard employees will continue to work, but they may lose pay depending on the length of the shutdown.
At FEMA, a shutdown would undermine the agency’s ability to reimburse states for disaster relief costs. Some workers will be furloughed, limiting the agency’s ability to coordinate with state and local partners. Training for first responders at the National University of Disaster and Emergency Management in Maryland will be disrupted.
Why is the Department of Homeland Security shutting down?
Essentially, that’s because Trump acquiesced to Democratic demands to divest Homeland Security funding from a broader spending plan to allow more time to negotiate requirements for immigration enforcement reforms, such as a code of conduct for federal agents and a requirement for officers to show identification. The Department of Homeland Security is currently only receiving funding for Friday.
The remainder of the federal government funding is available until September 30. This means that most federal programs will not be affected by the recent government shutdown, including food assistance, and most federal workers and military personnel will continue to receive uninterrupted paychecks.