The partial shutdown of Departamento of Segurança Interna of Estados Unidos has lasted more than 45 days and has become the longest in the history of the federal government. Iniciada on February 14, the measure affects tens of thousands of federal workers who continue to go unpaid or operate in precarious conditions. The political impasse involves disagreements over funding for immigration and border security agencies, with Republicans and Democrats exchanging accusations without concrete progress in negotiations.
DHS employees report low internal morale, especially as TSA agents were ordered paid through executive action by President Donald Trump, while thousands of other colleagues remain unpaid. The press secretary of Casa Branca, Karoline Leavitt, justified the measure as necessary to resolve the crisis in air transport. However, internal department sources indicate that this decision reduced political pressure for a broad agreement.
- TSA airport security officers began receiving retroactive pay starting March 30.
- Thousands of cybersecurity, FEMA and Guarda Costeira employees remain without regular pay.
- The stoppage impacts operations to protect future events such as the Copa football Mundo and the 250th anniversary of the Estados Unidos.
Legislative dispute extends into parliamentary recess
Câmara and Senado went on a two-week break with no anticipated return, despite appeals from Casa Branca. Republicanos of the House rejected a bill passed in Senado that would fund most of DHS, with the exception of Serviço of Imigração and Alfândega and parts of
Then, Câmara approved its own measure to fund the entire department until May 22, but the text did not advance in Senado. Senadores Republicans are now discussing the possibility of using the budget reconciliation process to bypass Democratic opposition, although this requires complex steps and could generate new internal divisions.
Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota said Republicans are seeking to avoid a repeat of the impasse and will consider passing unilateral legislation if necessary. Já Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana argued that Democrats will not accept full funding for immigration agencies due to recent controversies.
Effects of the strike on airport security reduce pressure for agreement
The Trump executive order directed existing funds to pay about 50,000 TSA agents, which helped reduce the long security lines seen at U.S. airports in previous weeks. With salaries being regularized and the number of absences among agents decreasing, the main immediate incentive for a bipartisan agreement lost strength.
DHS officials point out that in the previous shutdown, chaos at airports had forced changes of position among lawmakers. Desta time, presidential intervention changed the scenario and left thousands of other department workers without similar relief. Spokeswoman Lauren Bis demanded that Democrats stop using civil servants’ salaries as a political bargaining chip.
Bipartisan immigration talks make little headway
Conversations between Republicans and Democrats about changes to immigration enforcement have barely evolved in recent weeks. Republicanos of Câmara and Senado present alternative plans, while Casa Branca offers little mediation to unify positions within the party itself.
The majority leader of Senado, John Thune, has sought dialogue with the minority leader, A bipartisan group in Câmara proposed tying DHS funding to adjustments in immigration policy, but discussions in Senado go in another direction.
Thune faces internal and external pressure to convene a session before the end of the recess on April 13. Alguns Republican senators publicly expressed regret or questioning about the strategy adopted in Friday’s early vote.
Internal divisions among Republicans complicate resolution
Senators such as Rick Scott, from Flórida, and Mike Lee, from Lee explained that he acted based on the expectation of support from Casa Branca and Câmara, but revised his position following online reactions.
Hoeven, a close ally of Thune, defended the leadership and attributed internal frustrations to Democratic resistance to border restrictions. Republicanos conservatives are pushing for cuts in other areas to offset spending, creating yet another point of tension.
The Senado plan called for combining partial funding with immigration-focused reconciliation, but leaders warn that extending the process to all of DHS would make everything more complicated.
Impact on DHS workers and operations
More than 2,000 employees at the federal cybersecurity agency, more than 4,000 at FEMA and more than a thousand civilian employees at Guarda Costeira remain directly affected by the lack of regular pay. Muitos continue to work without pay to keep essential services running.
The DHS spokeswoman reinforced that the record shutdown compromises the ability to protect Americans and visitors at large events. Trabalhadores report discontent with the disparity created by the TSA’s prioritization of salaries.
Low morale is cited as a factor that can worsen absences and reduce operational efficiency in critical areas of national security.
Prospects for ending the impasse remain uncertain
Lawmakers on both sides maintain firm positions, with Democrats rejecting bills that do not include safeguards and Republicans insisting on full funding without additional concessions. The absence of parliamentary sessions over the next two weeks further reduces the chances of immediate progress.
Anonymous sources within the government estimate that the impasse could last until the summer if there is no significant change in the stance of the parties involved. Senator Hoeven indicated that Republicans may opt for unilateral actions to avoid a repeat of the problem in the future.
The dispute has turned into an internal Republican battle, with public exchanges of accusations between Câmara and Senado, while DHS continues to operate in a limited capacity.
