The United States is experiencing a partial government shutdown as of February 14, 2026, primarily affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) due to a funding lapse. This shutdown, the third during President Donald Trump's second term, impacts about 13% of the federal civilian workforce, including agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the US Coast Guard, as reported by The Guardian. The impasse arose from a failure to reach an agreement on immigration enforcement reforms, with Democrats demanding significant changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, such as requiring judicial warrants for arrests and banning agents from wearing masks, according to ABC News. Despite the shutdown, ICE continues to operate due to independent funding, highlighting the agency's contentious role in the ongoing political standoff (South China Morning Post).