5 issues to know : NPR

[ad_1] <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3440x2293+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2F12%2F240c0d1c4b80b6d46e6da0e88d3a%2Fgettyimages-2261511065.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3440x2293+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1e%2F12%2F240c0d1c4b80b6d46e6da0e88d3a%2Fgettyimages-2261511065.jpg" class="img" alt="The Department of Homeland Security's sign is seen outside its headquarters on February 13, 2026 in Washington, D.C." fetchpriority="high"/> The Division of Homeland Safety's signal is seen outdoors its headquarters on February 13, 2026 in Washington, D.C. Alex Wong/Getty Pictures cover caption

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Alex Wong/Getty Pictures The Division of Homeland Safety has shut down after lawmakers failed to satisfy a midnight Friday deadline to fund the company and its workforce of greater than 260,000 individuals.

The division noticed its baseline funding expire after lawmakers left city for a week-long recess, however with out a deal to rein within the conduct of federal immigration officers. Democrats say that after two U.S. residents had been shot useless by immigration officers in Minneapolis, they want reforms cemented into regulation earlier than agreeing to fund the division.

The shutdown is now the third in a matter of months, however in contrast to the others, this one is extra restricted. It solely impacts DHS, not different federal companies. Nonetheless, the division is sweeping in its scope, accountable not just for immigration enforcement, but in addition catastrophe response and airport safety.

As lawmakers and the White Home look to interrupt the deadlock, listed here are 5 issues to know concerning the shutdown.

1. It is exhausting to understand how lengthy the shutdown will final <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4c%2F69%2F17bb4381426fb4b6e2a86546de78%2Fgettyimages-2260943116.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/6000x4000+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F4c%2F69%2F17bb4381426fb4b6e2a86546de78%2Fgettyimages-2260943116.jpg" class="img" alt="Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., arrives for a press conference on February 10, 2026 on Capitol Hill." loading="lazy"/> Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., arrives for a press convention on February 10, 2026 on Capitol Hill. Thune has stated lawmakers have been informed to be able to return from recess if a deal on DHS funding is reached. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Pictures cover caption

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Michael M. Santiago/Getty Pictures Democrats have spelled out an inventory of 10 calls for, however discovering consensus has been robust. Some asks, like requiring immigration officers to put on physique cameras, seem to get pleasure from bipartisan assist. However GOP lawmakers have pushed again on different calls for, like prohibiting brokers from carrying masks to hide their identities. Republicans say doing so would make it simpler for individuals to doxx federal officers.

Republicans within the Senate tried to cross a short-term funding extension on Thursday to permit time for negotiations to play out, however Democrats blocked that measure earlier than lawmakers in each chambers left the Capitol for the recess. The vote got here after a White Home counteroffer that Democrats rejected as "inadequate and incomplete."

"Democrats is not going to assist a clean verify for chaos," stated Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. "This vote at the moment requested a easy query: Will you rein in ICE's abuses or will you vote to increase the chaos. Republicans selected chaos. The Democrats, we refused."

Senate Majority Chief John Thune, R-S.D., stated lawmakers have been informed to be able to return from recess if a deal is reached, although he indicated that will be unlikely.

"I simply suppose for the time being we're not shut," Thune informed reporters.

2. Immigration enforcement is prone to proceed uninterrupted <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5500x3667+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2F79%2F5b35292040a4ad8a583329342ad3%2Fgettyimages-2259513946.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5500x3667+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F65%2F79%2F5b35292040a4ad8a583329342ad3%2Fgettyimages-2259513946.jpg" class="img" alt="An ICE agent holds a taser as they stand watch on February 5, 2026 in Minneapolis." loading="lazy"/> An ICE agent holds a taser as they stand watch on February 5, 2026 in Minneapolis. Stephen Maturen/Getty Pictures cover caption

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Stephen Maturen/Getty Pictures Throughout two congressional hearings this week, the leaders of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Safety informed lawmakers their companies would doubtless not see vital affect on their enforcement operations since each companies obtained greater than $70 billion from Congress final summer time as a part of the GOP's huge tax and spending invoice.

ICE Appearing Director Todd Lyons stated the shutdown may have an effect on DHS's work on transnational crime, however he didn't observe any affect to immigration operations. CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott did not element how the shutdown would have an effect on personnel, simply saying: "I agree America turns into much less protected."

One other company unlikely to see a lot interruption is U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers. USCIS Director Joseph Edlow reminded Home lawmakers that his company is funded primarily by the charges individuals pay after they submit numerous kinds and functions, so his staff would nonetheless receives a commission.

3. Air vacationers may see delays ... finally <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8256x5504+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Faf%2F00%2Fdf6c087949e6aa4e770b219c4ce4%2Fgettyimages-2245521075.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/8256x5504+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Faf%2F00%2Fdf6c087949e6aa4e770b219c4ce4%2Fgettyimages-2245521075.jpg" class="img" alt="A TSA checkpoint is closed during last year's government shutdown at Baltimore Washington International Airport. The shutdown at DHS could lead to delays for travelers at TSA checkpoints." loading="lazy"/> A TSA checkpoint is closed throughout final yr's authorities shutdown at Baltimore Washington Worldwide Airport. The shutdown at DHS may result in delays for vacationers at TSA checkpoints. Jim Watson/AFP through Getty Pictures cover caption

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Jim Watson/AFP through Getty Pictures Many of the Transportation Safety Administration's roughly 64,000 staff are thought-about "important" staff and have to remain on the job.

Nonetheless, vacationers throughout the U.S. may really feel the affect of the shutdown — significantly if it lasts various weeks. In previous shutdowns, airport safety staff stayed house from work in better numbers after they began lacking paychecks, citing "monetary limitations."

And TSA leaders say many are nonetheless feeling the results of the prolonged funding lapse in October and November.

"We noticed lots of of us should tackle second jobs, making for very lengthy work days," stated Ha Nguyen McNeill, the performing administrator of the TSA, at a Home listening to on Wednesday. "Some are simply recovering from the monetary affect of the 43-day shutdown. Many are nonetheless reeling from it. We can not put them by way of one other such expertise."

The variety of unscheduled absences amongst TSA staff doubled and even tripled at some airports over the past shutdown, in accordance with McNeill. The specter of repeated shutdowns additionally makes it more durable to draw and retain staff, she stated.

Some could really feel extra motivated to point out up for work this time due to the $10,000 bonuses that DHS leaders gave screeners for "exemplary service" after the earlier discovering lapse — although it stays unclear precisely what number of staff obtained these bonuses, or how they had been chosen.

Happily for vacationers, February is a comparatively quiet month for the U.S. aviation trade. However site visitors tends to choose up in March, when the spring break journey season begins. Air site visitors controllers work for the Federal Aviation Administration, which isn't a part of DHS, so that they shouldn't be immediately affected by a shutdown.

4. Federal catastrophe response will nonetheless be obtainable, however could also be slowed down <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4656x3202+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F88%2F2b%2Ffa887a0441e5ae745d4df40a716f%2Fgettyimages-2257469781.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4656x3202+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F88%2F2b%2Ffa887a0441e5ae745d4df40a716f%2Fgettyimages-2257469781.jpg" class="img" alt="A worker in the National Response Coordination Center looks at a map of the approaching winter storm at FEMA headquarters on January 24, 2026 in Washington, D.C." loading="lazy"/> A employee within the Nationwide Response Coordination Heart appears to be like at a map of the approaching winter storm at FEMA headquarters on January 24, 2026 in Washington, D.C. Al Drago/Getty Pictures cover caption

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Al Drago/Getty Pictures The nation's high catastrophe restoration company will probably be affected by the shutdown, however the company will nonetheless be capable of reply to emergencies.

FEMA helps state and native governments when massive disasters occur, together with main hurricanes, earthquakes and wildfires. For instance, FEMA had employees, meals and turbines obtainable in the course of the ice storm that hit the jap half of the U.S. earlier this winter.

That sort of help is paid for with cash from the Catastrophe Reduction Fund, which was established by Congress. On Wednesday, FEMA Affiliate Administrator Gregg Phillips informed Congress that the fund "has ample balances to proceed emergency response actions for the foreseeable future."

FEMA additionally helps pay for the prices of catastrophe restoration, together with repairs to houses, faculties and roads, hauling away particles and constructing infrastructure corresponding to flood partitions that may assist defend individuals in the course of the subsequent catastrophe. That work typically takes years, and will probably be slowed down by the shutdown as a result of some staff could also be furloughed, and a few forms of funding is not going to be obtainable.

"A authorities shutdown would severely disrupt FEMA's skill to reimburse states for catastrophe reduction prices and to assist our restoration from disasters," Phillips informed Home members.

5. Some Coast Guard missions could find yourself suspended <img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5000x3495+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F68%2F6e%2Fa27388d646a48c2e43cb562916f4%2Fgettyimages-2253578976.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5000x3495+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F68%2F6e%2Fa27388d646a48c2e43cb562916f4%2Fgettyimages-2253578976.jpg" class="img" alt="A USCGC Vigilant (WMEC-617) is docked at Coast Guard Base San Juan, on December 31, 2025 San Juan, Puerto Rico." loading="lazy"/> The USCGC Vigilant (WMEC-617) is docked at Coast Guard Base San Juan, on December 31, 2025 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP through Getty Pictures cover caption

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Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/AFP through Getty Pictures The U.S. Coast Guard is a department of the army, however is housed inside DHS. Admiral Thomas Allan informed the Home Appropriations Committee on Wednesday that in a shutdown the Coast Guard must droop all non-essential missions, and defer coaching and upkeep, together with industrial security inspections and different providers.

Coast Guard groups are deployed across the nation and world wide and carry out a variety of missions which might be thought-about important, from search and rescue to interdicting drug vessels. Lots of the 55,000 personnel must proceed working, whereas risking not being paid throughout a shutdown. Although over the past shutdown, DHS used cash from the Republican tax and spending invoice to pay their salaries.