Trump to Sign Order Resuming Pay for Homeland Security Employees

The move comes as the partial government shutdown reaches 48 days.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 3:38pm

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President Donald Trump announced he will soon sign an executive order to pay all Department of Homeland Security employees who have gone without paychecks during the ongoing partial government shutdown. The DHS funding lapse had seemed likely to stretch into next week as Congress considered various funding plans, but Trump's unilateral action aims to provide relief for affected workers.

Why it matters

The partial government shutdown has left thousands of DHS employees, including those at the Transportation Security Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and U.S. Coast Guard, without pay. Trump's order is an attempt to bypass Congress and address the growing frustration and disruption caused by the funding impasse.

The details

Trump announced the move on social media, blaming Democrats for the standoff while thanking Republican leaders for their efforts to end the shutdown. The president used a similar executive order to resume pay for TSA workers after many had called out from work, resulting in long delays at airport security. His latest intervention is expected to apply to other non-law enforcement DHS employees as well.

  • The partial government shutdown has reached 48 days as of Thursday, April 2, 2026.
  • Trump said he will sign the executive order 'soon' to resume pay for DHS workers.

The players

President Donald Trump

The Republican president who announced he will sign an executive order to pay DHS employees affected by the partial government shutdown.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune

The Republican senator from South Dakota who said the GOP leadership and Trump have aligned on a plan to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security.

Speaker Mike Johnson

The Republican congressman from Louisiana who previously derided the Senate's DHS funding plan as a 'joke' but has now embraced the two-track approach.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer

The Democratic senator from New York who blamed Republican divisions for derailing a bipartisan agreement and making 'American families pay the price for their dysfunction.'

Rep. Scott Perry

The Republican congressman from Pennsylvania who said 'caving to Democrats and not paying CBP and ICE is agreeing to defund Law Enforcement and leaving our borders wide open again.'

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What they’re saying

“Nevertheless, help is on the way for our Brave and Patriotic Public Servants who have continued to work hard, and do their part to protect and defend our Country.”

— President Donald Trump

“Republican divisions derailed a bipartisan agreement, making American families pay the price for their dysfunction.”

— Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer

“Let's make this simple: caving to Democrats and not paying CBP and ICE is agreeing to defund Law Enforcement and leaving our borders wide open again. If that's the vote, I'm a NO.”

— Rep. Scott Perry

What’s next

The House is expected to hold a conference call later Thursday to discuss the next steps on DHS funding, as Republican leaders and Trump work to align on a plan to fully fund the department.

The takeaway

Trump's executive order bypassing Congress to resume pay for DHS employees underscores the ongoing dysfunction and partisan gridlock over immigration and border security issues that have contributed to the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history.