DHS Shutdown Sets Record as Funding Fight Rages Over ICE and a $400 Million Ballroom

TL;DR: The Department of Homeland Security has been shut down since Feb. 14, marking the longest funding lapse for a single agency, as Congress battles over ICE funding and a $400 million ballroom.

Context The shutdown began after the Senate passed a bill to fund most of DHS but left out Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. House Speaker Mike Johnson has signaled further delays, proposing a modified version of the Senate bill. Meanwhile, President Trump has directed emergency payments to keep Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and other DHS workers on the payroll, but those funds are expected to run out by early May.

Key Facts - The shutdown started on Feb. 14, making it the longest funding lapse ever for a single federal department. - Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought told a Senate hearing that DHS is “disintegrating” as officials scramble to temporarily fund paychecks to keep staff from quitting. - Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused President Trump of prioritizing a $400 million taxpayer‑funded gold‑plated ballroom over DHS funding, calling the president’s values “perverse.” - House Republicans are pushing for additional money for ICE and Border Patrol, linking it to a broader budget blueprint approved by Senate Republicans. - A recent White House press dinner shooting has intensified calls from Senate Republicans to fully fund DHS, arguing that underfunded law‑enforcement agencies jeopardize security. - No legislation to end the shutdown is on the agenda for the House meeting at 9 a.m. on April 29, and the Senate will not consider a DHS funding bill until after noon.

What It Means With emergency payroll funds dwindling, tens of thousands of TSA agents and other DHS employees risk another pay freeze in May. The impasse underscores a broader partisan divide: Democrats demand oversight reforms for ICE before funding, while Republicans tie DHS funding to increased enforcement resources. The stalemate also highlights the political cost of high‑profile projects like the $400 million ballroom, which critics say divert attention from essential security needs. As both chambers reconvene, the next few days will determine whether a revised funding package can break the deadlock or extend the record‑setting shutdown.

Looking ahead, watch for any bipartisan compromise on ICE funding and the fate of the ballroom project, both of which could dictate when DHS resumes normal operations.