President Donald Trump announced plans to sign an executive order aimed at resuming pay for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees affected by the ongoing partial government shutdown, which has now reached a record-breaking 48 days. The move, revealed in a social media post on Thursday, bypasses Congress and is expected to provide relief for many DHS workers who have continued working without pay during the shutdown.
"Help is on the way for our Brave and Patriotic Public Servants who have continued to work hard, and do their part to protect and defend our Country", Trump stated. He also emphasized that their families "have suffered far too long."
The executive order is expected to apply to non-law enforcement employees within DHS, including workers from agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Coast Guard, and the federal cybersecurity coordination office. This follows Trump’s earlier decision to use a similar maneuver to reinstate pay for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees, which helped alleviate delays at airport security checkpoints caused by staff shortages.
Congressional Gridlock Persists
While Trump’s unilateral action offers temporary relief for some DHS employees, broader funding for the department remains unresolved. Lawmakers in both chambers met briefly on Thursday but failed to make significant progress toward ending the shutdown. The Republican-led Senate previously approved a plan to fund most of DHS, excluding immigration enforcement operations, but the House has yet to take it up.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., have endorsed a two-step funding approach that would first address the bulk of DHS operations while separately negotiating funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol. However, the strategy faces opposition from within the GOP.
"I don’t know the particulars around what the House will do with it", Thune said. "My assumption is, at some point, hopefully, they’ll move it."
The House is not expected to reconvene until April 14, leaving many DHS employees without full resolution for at least another week.
Pushback from Conservative Lawmakers
Securing support within the GOP remains a challenge, as some lawmakers refuse to support any funding package that does not include ICE and Border Patrol. Representative Scott Perry, R-Pa., criticized the current plan, stating on social media, "Let’s make this simple: caving to Democrats and not paying CBP and ICE is agreeing to defund Law Enforcement and leaving our borders wide open again. If that’s the vote, I’m a NO."
Despite the resistance, Trump expressed optimism about Republican unity, stating, "Republicans are UNIFIED, and moving forward on a plan that will reload funding for our FANTASTIC Border Patrol and Immigration Enforcement Officers."
DHS Employees Impacted by Shutdown
The prolonged government funding lapse has left thousands of DHS employees working without pay. Among them, about 10,000 FEMA workers continue to receive wages through the Disaster Relief Fund, which remains unaffected by the shutdown. However, at least 4,000 FEMA employees are either furloughed or working without pay.
As frustrations grow, particularly among air travelers who experienced long waits at airport security lines, the situation has highlighted the urgency of resolving the funding impasse. Thune noted that the Senate’s goal is to pass narrowly focused legislation "with haste" to expedite aid for those affected.
For now, Trump’s executive order provides a lifeline to many DHS workers, but the broader funding crisis remains unresolved as lawmakers grapple with deep divisions over key issues like immigration enforcement.
