Trump to Sign Order to Resume Homeland Security Pay Amid Shutdown/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump announced he will sign an order to resume pay for Homeland Security employees. The move bypasses Congress as the DHS funding standoff enters its seventh week. Lawmakers remain divided over funding immigration enforcement agencies.
Homeland Security Pay Order Quick Looks
- Trump to resume DHS pay via executive order
- Move bypasses Congress amid funding stalemate
- Shutdown now in its 48th day
- FEMA and Coast Guard included
- Two-step funding plan under discussion
- House considering Senate bipartisan proposal
- Immigration enforcement funding still unresolved
- Conservative Republicans oppose partial funding
- TSA staffing shortages impact airports
- Thousands of DHS workers unpaid
- Trump seeks long-term funding legislation
- Lawmakers divided despite leadership agreement
Deep Look: Trump Moves to Resume Homeland Security Pay During Shutdown
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will sign an executive order to resume pay for Department of Homeland Security employees, bypassing Congress as lawmakers remain deadlocked over funding for the agency.
Trump made the announcement in a social media post, saying the move would restore pay for workers across the Department of Homeland Security, including employees at the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Coast Guard.
The decision comes as the partial shutdown of the department stretches into its 48th day, leaving thousands of federal workers without pay even as many continue to report for duty.
Shutdown Likely to Continue
Despite Trump’s executive order to resume pay, the broader funding standoff remains unresolved. Congress made little progress Thursday, with both the House and Senate holding brief pro forma sessions without taking action.
Republican leadership and Trump have aligned around a two-step plan to end the impasse. The strategy would fund most of the Department of Homeland Security immediately, while delaying funding for immigration enforcement agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he expects the House to eventually consider the bipartisan Senate proposal.
“My assumption is, at some point, hopefully, they’ll move it,” Thune told reporters.
Speaker Johnson Reverses Position
House Speaker Mike Johnson has shifted his stance, now supporting the two-step plan after previously criticizing it. Johnson and Thune announced they would move forward with the Senate-backed proposal.
However, the plan still faces opposition from conservative Republicans who insist on fully funding immigration enforcement operations immediately.
House Republicans were expected to hold a conference call Thursday to discuss their next steps.
Immigration Funding Remains Major Dispute
The Senate plan funds most DHS operations but excludes immigration enforcement agencies. Republicans aim to fund those agencies later through party-line legislation, which could take months to complete.
Democrats support the Senate proposal and blame Republican divisions for prolonging the shutdown.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Republican disagreements have delayed a bipartisan solution and extended the shutdown.
Meanwhile, conservative Republicans have warned they will oppose any measure that excludes funding for immigration enforcement.
Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania argued that failing to fund Border Patrol and ICE would weaken border security.
Trump Pushes Long-Term Funding
Trump has also called for broader legislation to fund immigration enforcement agencies through the remainder of his term. He has requested that lawmakers deliver the legislation by June 1.
Senate leaders acknowledged that passing such legislation could face hurdles, particularly if lawmakers attempt to add unrelated provisions.
Thune emphasized the need to move quickly and keep the bill focused.
Workers and Travelers Affected
Although most DHS employees have continued working during the shutdown, many have gone weeks without pay. The situation has strained operations, particularly at airports.
Transportation Security Administration staffing shortages led to long security lines for travelers. Those delays began easing after workers started receiving back pay following Trump’s earlier executive action.
Still, the shutdown continues to create uncertainty for federal employees and travelers alike.
Trump’s move to resume pay may ease immediate pressure on workers, but the broader funding dispute remains unresolved. With Congress divided and negotiations ongoing, the Department of Homeland Security shutdown could continue even as paychecks resume.
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