President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will soon sign an executive order to pay all employees of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has been shut down for 48 days. The move comes as congressional negotiations remain stalled over funding for the agency.
Immediate Action & Core Facts
Trump stated in a Truth Social post that DHS employees have "suffered far too long" and that "help is on the way." The order follows a previous executive action to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers, who began receiving backpay this week. However, thousands of other essential DHS employees, including civilian Coast Guard workers, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) workers, and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency employees, have continued working without pay.
Deeper Dive & Context
Congressional Response
Republican congressional leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, announced a two-track plan to end the shutdown. The House will first consider a Senate-passed bill funding all DHS agencies except Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Republicans plan to use the reconciliation process to fund those two agencies separately, relying solely on GOP votes. Democrats have opposed providing additional funding to ICE and CBP without reforms.
Trump’s Rationale
Trump blamed Democrats for the shutdown, alleging they are "100% committed to the Radical Left Policy of Open Borders and Zero Immigration Enforcement." He criticized Democratic leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, for the prolonged funding impasse.
Impact on DHS Employees
The shutdown has caused significant financial strain for DHS employees, many of whom have been working without pay. The executive order is expected to cover all DHS employees, including those in non-law-enforcement roles. However, details on the funding source and duration of the payments remain unclear.
Historical Context
This is the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, surpassing the 35-day partial shutdown in 2018-2019. The current impasse centers on disagreements over immigration enforcement and border security funding.