Trump orders DHS to pay all employees despite shutdown
President Trump on Friday ordered the Department of Homeland Security to find a way to pay “every employee” at the agency, which has faced a nearly two-month shutdown due to congressional gridlock, leaving thousands without a paycheck.
The president’s memo directs DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought to “use funds that have a reasonable and logical relationship to the functions of DHS.” It does not list the specific funding sources that DHS plans to tap, nor the exact legal rationale for transferring these funds.
“This callous treatment of DHS employees must end to ensure that America is not exposed to security threats and remains prepared to respond to emergencies,” he wrote, blaming Democrats for the shutdown. “As President of the United States, I have determined that these circumstances constitute an emergency compromising the security of the nation.”
Mr. Trump previewed the move on Thursday, writing on social media that he “will soon sign an order to pay EVERY incredible employee at the Department of Homeland Security.”
The memo estimates that more than 35,000 DHS employees have not been paid, including civilian Coast Guard employees and staff at the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Cybersecurity and Information Security Agency.
Other DHS staffers received paychecks as the Trump administration tried to move money, including Secret Service agents and active duty Coast Guard personnel.
Employees at two immigration-focused agencies — Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection — were paid with funding from last year’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Last week, Mr. Trump ordered that Transportation Security Administration officers be paid through similar means, after absences by TSA officers led to hours-long lines at the airport.
DHS was closed since mid-February due to a dispute over immigration enforcement policy. Following the fatal shootings of two Americans by immigration agents in Minneapolis earlier this year, congressional Democrats opposed defunding ICE and CBP without policy changesbut the two parties failed to reach agreement on reforms.
A path forward emerged last week, after Senate Democrats and Republicans approved a bill to fund most of DHS while eliminating ICE and part of CBP, allowing most of the agency to reopen.
House Republicans initially rejected this planbut earlier this week, GOP leaders in both chambers indicated they planned to funnel most DHS funds through that route. Next, they plan to fund the rest of DHS — ICE and CBP — through the Senate reconciliation process, which allows spending bills to pass with a simple majority without Democratic support.
The House has yet to make a decision on the Senate bill to fund most of DHS.
