Published: February 9, 2026
Each year, Congress passes a funding bill to determine how much money the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) receives. DHS is a large agency made up of several groups, including disaster response (FEMA), airport security (TSA), border and customs enforcement (CBP), immigration enforcement (ICE), the Coast Guard, and the Secret Service. The funding law sets the total amount of money DHS receives and explains how that money is allocated to these different groups.
Late last month, lawmakers were involved in a major dispute regarding this bill, specifically, how much money should be given to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Proposal plans suggested that ICE would receive somewhere between $10 billion to $11.3 billion, nearly 15% of the total $64 billion DHS budget. This funding will go toward ICE vehicles, deportation fees, and maintenance and construction of detention facilities across the country.Â
The controversy has been heightened due to ICE receiving nearly $75 billion in additional funding from the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), passed by Congress and President Donald Trump in July of last year. Although this $75 billion is distributed to the agency for its use over the next four years, it has led to significant opposition to the DHS’s current funding bill.Â
Moreover, some Democratic lawmakers have refused to support the bill after the deaths of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, and Renee Good, a 37-year-old author and mother of three, in incidents with Border Patrol and ICE. However, for the funding bill to be approved, it must pass through both the House of Representatives and the Senate with majority votes and receive the President’s signature.Â
Due to the aforementioned events, lawmakers could not reach a funding agreement, resulting in a partial government shutdown. On February 3rd, the House of Representatives passed a temporary funding package that allows several other government agencies to remain funded while extending funding agreements for DHS. This will give Senate lawmakers additional time to negotiate, attaching requirements to the bill, such as an enforced code of conduct and stricter warrant rules.
