Trump Orders Compensation for DHS Employees Amid Shutdown

On Friday, President Trump instructed Homeland Security Secretary Mark Wayne Mullin to ensure that “every single employee” affected by the “Democrat-led DHS shutdown” receives payment.

He asked Mullin to collaborate with Russell Vought, who heads the Office of Management and Budget, to access “funds that are reasonably and logically tied to DHS functions.” This is aimed at supporting employees who have been unpaid since February 14.

Trump’s directive was detailed in a memo titled “Freeing the Department of Homeland Security from Democratic Shutdown.”

According to the memo, over 35,000 workers, which include Coast Guard civilians, Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel involved in disaster response, and cybersecurity specialists at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, have endured nearly two months without pay, a situation attributed to Congressional Democrats.

The memo highlights that “thousands of Department of Homeland Security employees who perform essential public safety duties are struggling to make ends meet and provide for their families.” It further states that this “callous treatment” must come to an end to prevent exposing America to national security risks and to ensure readiness for emergencies.

Trump asserted that the ongoing shutdown represents a “national security emergency.”

Mullin, who recently completed his second week as DHS secretary, expressed gratitude for Trump’s leadership and criticized Democratic lawmakers for allegedly holding DHS employees hostage for “political theater.”

He emphasized, “We are literally putting our country at risk,” reflecting on the 49th day of the shutdown. “You’re putting my garden, your garden, your loved one’s garden at risk.”

Previously, Trump had leveraged executive powers to authorize payments for TSA employees, thus alleviating congestion at airports nationwide.

This latest order comes during a week in which Trump reported progress in negotiations aimed at reopening DHS. He mentioned that House Republicans are backing a Senate plan to fund the department, though it excludes parts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection.

Funding for most of DHS lapsed on February 14. ICE and CBP had received financial support through Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act last summer. The Senate now plans to seek additional funding for these agencies via the reconciliation process, which allows for bypassing the 60-vote threshold.

It remains unclear when the House will address the Senate bill, as most lawmakers are expected to be on recess until the week of April 13.