Trump Orders Pay for DHS Workers Amid Prolonged Funding Standoff

President announces move to compensate Homeland Security employees as shutdown enters seventh week and negotiations continue.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 6:09pm

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President Donald Trump said he will sign an order to ensure employees at the Department of Homeland Security receive pay during an ongoing funding lapse that has extended for 48 days. The announcement follows a similar action taken last week to pay Transportation Security Administration officers and comes as Congress continues to debate funding for DHS, with the Senate sending a proposal to the House that would restore funding for most of the department's operations but exclude key enforcement agencies.

Why it matters

The extended funding lapse has affected operations and personnel across the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees agencies including ICE, CBP, and TSA. Trump's order to pay DHS workers is intended to provide temporary relief while lawmakers work toward a broader agreement on funding.

The details

In a social media statement, Trump said DHS personnel have 'suffered far too long' during the shutdown and attributed the funding impasse to congressional Democrats. He added that Republicans are 'UNIFIED, and moving forward on a plan that will reload funding for our FANTASTIC Border Patrol and Immigration Enforcement Officers.' The move comes as the Senate has sent a proposal to the House that would restore funding for most of DHS's operations but exclude key enforcement agencies like ICE and CBP.

  • The funding lapse has extended for 48 days.
  • Trump announced the order on April 2, 2026.
  • The president set a deadline for lawmakers to deliver a final funding bill 'NO LATER than June 1st.'

The players

President Donald Trump

The President of the United States who announced the order to pay DHS workers during the funding standoff.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune

The Republican senator who said discussions are ongoing but uncertainty remains about how the House will proceed with the Senate's funding proposal.

House Speaker Mike Johnson

The Republican House leader who recently outlined a strategy to address the funding issue through two parallel legislative tracks.

Department of Homeland Security

The federal department that oversees agencies including ICE, CBP, and TSA, and has been affected by the extended funding lapse.

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What they’re saying

“DHS personnel have 'suffered far too long' during the shutdown and attributed the funding impasse to congressional Democrats.”

— President Donald Trump

“Republicans are 'UNIFIED, and moving forward on a plan that will reload funding for our FANTASTIC Border Patrol and Immigration Enforcement Officers.'”

— President Donald Trump

“I don't know the particulars around what the House will do with it. My assumption is, at some point, hopefully, they'll move it.”

— Senate Majority Leader John Thune

What’s next

The House has not yet taken up the Senate's funding proposal, and lawmakers are not expected to act until returning to Washington in mid-April. As a result, the funding lapse is expected to continue into next week. The president has urged Congress to complete the process quickly, setting a deadline for lawmakers to deliver a final funding bill 'NO LATER than June 1st.'

The takeaway

This move by the president to pay DHS workers during the prolonged funding standoff highlights the ongoing political tensions and the impact the shutdown is having on federal agencies and their personnel. It also underscores the need for Congress to reach a bipartisan agreement on DHS funding to avoid further disruptions to critical homeland security operations.