The Department of Homeland Security shuts down Saturday at 12:01 a.m. after Senate Republicans failed to advance appropriations Thursday, voting 52-47 on legislation requiring 60 votes under filibuster rules Majority Leader John Thune refuses to eliminate. The Transportation Security Administration designates 95% of its 61,000 employees as essential. The Coast Guard requires all 56,000 personnel to work without pay. Approximately 92% of DHS employees continue operations while ICE enforcement runs unaffected on $75 billion from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed last July.
Three weeks ago, House and Senate negotiators reached bipartisan agreement on DHS appropriations including $20 million for ICE body cameras, $2 million for de-escalation training, $115 million in enforcement cuts, and 5,500 fewer detention beds. Border Patrol agents shot and killed Alex Pretti on January 24 in Minneapolis. Pretti was a 37-year-old VA intensive care nurse who participated in demonstrations against ICE agents. Democrats withdrew from the bipartisan agreement after Pretti’s death and now block appropriations containing restrictions they negotiated.
The political fractures showed Wednesday when six House Republicans defied Trump’s explicit threat, voting 219-211 to terminate Canada tariffs. Minutes before the vote, Trump posted: “Any Republican that votes against TARIFFS will seriously suffer the consequences come Election time, and that includes Primaries!” Jeff Hurd of Colorado, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Kevin Kiley of California, Don Bacon of Nebraska, and Dan Newhouse of Washington voted to terminate tariffs knowing Trump will veto and Congress lacks override votes. Three face 2026 reelection. The Supreme Court will decide tariff authority in V.O.S. Selections v. Trump by February 20.
The House passed the SAVE America Act 218-213 on February 11, requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote. Senator Ed Markey blocked immediate passage, forcing the bill to require 60 votes. The Brennan Center claims 21 million Americans would be disenfranchised. Every U.S. citizen possesses proof of citizenship—birth certificates on file with state vital records offices costing $10 to $50. The survey measured whether people could find documents tomorrow, not whether the documents exist.
Federal workers received final paychecks Friday for the pay period ending February 7. The February 27 payday delays until Congress passes appropriations. Congress remains in recess through February 22, with many senators attending the Munich Security Conference. The shutdown extends at least ten days while Republicans control the White House, House, and Senate but maintain filibuster rules requiring Democratic cooperation they’re not receiving.
Support Independent Local Journalism — High Country Advocate was created as a real alternative to regional media that too often silences dissenting voices while taking sides in the political struggle. Producing in-depth, unflinching reporting like this series and others is expensive: servers, editing, research time, and legal review all add up quickly. If these articles have informed you or given you new perspective, please consider supporting HCA with a paid subscription — every subscriber helps keep this reporting strong and independent. 