Trump orders DHS to pay all employees despite shutdown

April 4, 2026

TL;DR

President Trump ordered DHS to find funds to pay all employees affected by the shutdown.
The shutdown has left thousands of DHS employees without pay for nearly two months.
Trump blamed Democrats for the shutdown and declared it an emergency compromising national security.
Over 35,000 DHS employees, including civilian Coast Guard, FEMA, and CISA staff, have not been paid.
Some DHS staff, like Secret Service agents and active-duty Coast Guard personnel, have received paychecks through fund reallocation.
Law enforcement officers at ICE and CBP were paid through previous legislation.
TSA officers were recently directed to be paid through similar means to prevent airport disruptions.
The DHS shutdown stems from a dispute over immigration enforcement policy.
Congress is working on a bill to fund most of DHS, with separate plans for ICE and CBP.
House Republicans initially rejected a plan but now plan to pass most DHS funding through a Senate bill and the rest via reconciliation.

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