DHS-only shutdown begins as Democrats withhold votes over ICE reform demands

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security lapses at midnight on Feb. 14, 2026, beginning a 76-day shutdown of DHS - the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history. Democrats trigger the funding fight after Customs and Border Protection agents kill Alex Pretti, an unarmed U.S. citizen, during a traffic stop in Arizona on Feb. 7. Democratic leaders issue demands that must be met before they'll vote for any DHS funding bill, including a ban on ICE agents wearing masks to conceal their identities. (House Democratic Leadership, Feb. 14, 2026)