Department of Homeland Security Shutdown
February 13, 2026
At A Glance
- The federal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shut down at midnight on February 13, 2026.
- Several federal agencies housed within DHS may be impacted.
Introduction
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was funded on a stopgap basis through February 13, 2026, as part of the most recent approved federal budget. Since the Department's full fiscal budget for 2026 has not been approved by Congress, it and many federal agencies within it shut down at midnight on February 13, 2026.
One of the federal agencies impacted by a DHS shutdown is the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Because of this, E-Verify services may be unavailable during the shutdown.
E-Verify
When E-Verify is unavailable due to a DHS shutdown, employers will not be able to access their E-Verify accounts or:
- Create or enroll in E-Verify cases
- View or take action on any case
- Add, delete, edit, or terminate any user account
- Reset passwords
- Edit company information
- Run reports or view any information about an account.
However, during an E-Verify outage, employers are still required to complete Form I-9 for new hires. When E-Verify is available again, employers should process E-Verify cases as required.
Next Steps
Businesses are encouraged to stay up to date on developments related to the shutdown. Paylocity will continue to monitor and will provide updates as needed.
Thank you for choosing Paylocity as your valued service partner. This information is provided as a courtesy, may change, and is not intended as legal or tax guidance. Employers with questions or concerns outside the scope of a Payroll Service Provider are encouraged to seek the advice of a qualified CPA, Tax Attorney, or Advisor.
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