After Congress failed to reach an agreement to keep the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) open, funding lapsed on Saturday, February 14, 2026 when a continuing resolution to fund the agency expired. No other parts of the federal government are shutdown or at current risk of shutdown.

All other federal government agencies are funded through September 30 of this year. Notably for LeadingAge members, the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) were funded in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 enacted into law on February 3, 2026. The Department of Agriculture, which includes funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Rural Housing Service, were funded on November 12 as part of the government’s reopening after the October 2025 shutdown.

At issue regarding the DHS closure: funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). Democrats are pushing for restrictions and guardrails related to ICE and CBP activity to be enacted along with FY2026 appropriations for these agencies.

Because HR 1 contained significant funding for immigration enforcement, despite the current shutdown, enforcement activity will continue.

However, other parts of DHS, such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), are shut down and employees are not being paid. However, because 95% of TSA employees are essential workers, they report to work with no pay.

The ability of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), also within DHS, to provide reimbursement for states’ costs for disaster relief would be delayed due to the shutdown.

The Secret Service and the Coast Guard are also impacted and similarly to TSA have high numbers of essential employees, who must work with no pay.

Congress, which is officially in recess until February 23, does not appear to be close enough to a deal that would bring lawmakers back to Washington early to end the DHS shutdown.

It is unclear how long this shutdown will endure. The first missed paycheck for employees will be February 27, 2026.