At a Glance
- A potential federal shutdown could begin this Saturday as Congress fails to pass a full-year funding bill.
- ICE and other border-patrol operations are expected to keep running, even if agencies lose funding.
- The shutdown would affect $1.2 trillion in federal spending, largely tied to the Department of Defense.
- Why it matters: Citizens may see disruptions in services, but border enforcement would likely stay uninterrupted.
The federal government may shut down at the end of the week, but that is unlikely to halt aggressive ICE and border patrol operations in Minneapolis and across the country.
Potential Shutdown and Its Impact
A partial shutdown could begin Saturday if Congress does not approve the House-passed $1.2 trillion funding package. Money for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would run out late Friday night, forcing many agencies to furlough workers and reduce operations.
- DHS would still be considered an excepted agency, meaning employees must continue to work but will not receive pay.
- ICE would maintain regular operations because it received $75 billion from Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” last year.
- A continuing resolution (CR) could give DHS more flexibility to move money internally, keeping ICE funded at current levels.
ICE Operations Amid a Shutdown
ICE employees are classified as excepted workers. They are required to show up for work, but they will not be paid during a shutdown. Despite the lack of pay, the agency has ample funding:
- $75 billion in additional money for detention and enforcement.
- A CR would keep ICE enforcement and removal operations at their current level, avoiding a $115 million reduction.
- The agency would also keep its funding flat for the rest of the fiscal year.
DeLauro’s office explained that ICE would be able to sustain regular operations for multiple years if funding lapses:
> “ICE received $75 billion in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. In the event of a lapse in funding, ICE would be able to sustain regular operations for multiple years, while the other agencies under this bill would likely be forced to furlough workers and reduce operations,” her office said.
The office also noted that the negotiated funding deal does not include broad reforms to ICE, but it does reduce the number of ICE detention beds by 5,500 and includes $20 million for body cameras.
Funding Details and Congressional Stalemate
Congress has passed and President Donald Trump has signed into law six of the 12 full-year appropriations bills, covering funding through September 30. These bills fund the Departments of Justice, Commerce, Agriculture, Interior, Veterans Affairs, and the Legislative Branch.
The remaining six appropriations bills account for $1.2 trillion in federal spending, or nearly 80% of the total amount Congress plans to appropriate for the 2026 fiscal year. The majority of that funding is for the Department of Defense ($831 billion).
Because the House packaged those six remaining bills together and sent them to the Senate, a shutdown would impact many agencies:
- Pentagon
- DHS
- State
- Treasury
- Transportation
- Health and Human Services
- Housing and Urban Development
Shutting down DHS would mean that FEMA, TSA, and Coast Guard employees would not be paid, even as they are required to work.
Key Congressional Positions
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement Monday that Democrats are willing to pass the five other appropriations bills if they are separated from the DHS funding bill. Republicans, however, see no incentive to go that route, believing Democrats will be blamed for voting down a bipartisan, bicameral agreement already agreed to by Democratic negotiators.
Democrats have blocked a sweeping government funding bill unless significant restrictions are imposed on the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement operations. The agency’s funding would be flat for the remainder of the fiscal year, but it would still maintain its enforcement capacity.
Historical Context
If the government funding lapses at the end of the week, it would mark the second federal shutdown in four months during Trump’s second term in office. Senate Democrats blocked a funding bill last fall, demanding that the GOP include an extension to expiring Obamacare tax credits. That shutdown lasted 43 days-the longest in U.S. history.
Eight Democrats ultimately caved, voting with Republicans to reopen the government without a deal on health-care subsidies. Polling showed Republicans shouldering more blame for the shutdown than Democrats.
What a Shutdown Means for Agencies
| Agency | Current Funding Status | Impact of Shutdown |
|---|---|---|
| DHS | $75 billion allocated for ICE | Employees must work but are unpaid |
| Pentagon | $831 billion | Operations continue, but staff furloughed |
| State, Treasury, Transportation, Health & Human Services, Housing | $1.2 trillion combined | Many staff furloughed, services reduced |
| SNAP | Not impacted | Benefits continue |
The shutdown would not halt aggressive border enforcement, but it would cause significant disruptions in other federal services. Citizens may experience delays in processing, while federal employees would face unpaid workdays.
Key Takeaways
- A federal shutdown could begin Saturday if Congress does not approve the $1.2 trillion funding package.
- ICE and other border-patrol operations are likely to continue, despite the lack of pay for employees.
- The shutdown would affect $1.2 trillion in federal spending, mainly tied to the Department of Defense.
- The agency’s funding for ICE remains flat for the rest of the fiscal year, with additional resources for detention and enforcement.
- Historical precedent shows that a shutdown can last weeks and cause significant disruption to federal services.
