Trump White House May Issue Directive to Pay Unpaid Civilian ICE and CBP Staff

A new OMB memo suggests the administration is considering executive action to address funding issues at the Department of Homeland Security.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:50am

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of a solitary government office desk, with a single American flag standing upright in the corner, bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of quiet melancholy and the human impact of the DHS funding crisis.The empty desks of unpaid federal employees highlight the human toll of the ongoing budget impasse over border security and immigration enforcement.Washington Today

According to a recent memo from the Office of Management and Budget, the Trump White House is considering issuing a directive to pay civilian staff at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) who have gone unpaid due to the ongoing Department of Homeland Security funding crisis. This move would mirror a previous order to use tax cut funds to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents during the shutdown.

Why it matters

The DHS funding impasse has left many civilian government employees at key border and immigration agencies without paychecks, creating hardship and potentially impacting operations. The White House's reported plan to bypass Congress and use executive action to pay these workers reflects the ongoing political tensions and legislative gridlock around immigration and border security issues.

The details

The OMB memo indicates the White House is preparing to take 'additional executive action' to pay civilian support staff at ICE and CBP, since they are not being paid through the regular appropriations process. This comes after the administration previously directed DHS to use funds from the 2017 tax cut bill to continue paying TSA agents during the shutdown. The Republican-controlled Senate has proposed a split DHS funding bill that would provide resources for the department without money for ICE and CBP, but Democrats have rejected this approach.

  • The DHS funding lapse has been ongoing since mid-February 2026.
  • The OMB memo was sent to Congress on April 2, 2026.

The players

President Donald Trump

The former president who is reportedly considering executive action to address the DHS funding crisis and pay unpaid civilian staff at ICE and CBP.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

The federal agency that sent the memo to Congress indicating the White House's potential plans for executive action on DHS funding.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal law enforcement agency under DHS that employs both frontline agents and civilian support staff, some of whom have gone unpaid due to the funding lapse.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

The federal law enforcement agency under DHS that employs both frontline agents and civilian support staff, some of whom have gone unpaid due to the funding lapse.

Senate Republicans

The GOP-controlled Senate has proposed a split DHS funding bill that would provide resources for the department without money for ICE and CBP, but this approach has been rejected by Democrats.

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What they’re saying

“Trump directed DHS to pay TSA agents using funds from last year's tax cut bill. Those staffers are finally receiving their pay, and airport security lines have become shorter. ICE agents were also dispatched at airports to help with screening. Now, a similar order may be handed down for the civilian staffers at ICE and CBP, based on a new OMB memo.”

— Matt Vespa, Author

What’s next

The White House has not yet officially announced any executive action on DHS funding, but the OMB memo suggests this is under consideration. The Republican-controlled Senate and Democratic-controlled House will need to reach an agreement on DHS appropriations in order to end the funding lapse and ensure all government employees, including civilian ICE and CBP staff, receive their paychecks.

The takeaway

The ongoing DHS funding crisis has left many government employees without paychecks, creating hardship and potentially impacting operations. The White House's reported plan to use executive action to pay civilian ICE and CBP staff reflects the political gridlock around immigration and border security issues, and the administration's willingness to bypass Congress when it comes to addressing the impacts of the funding lapse.