President Trump issued an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to immediately compensate more than 35,000 federal employees who have worked without paychecks for nearly two months during an ongoing government shutdown.
Emergency Action to End Pay Crisis
Trump instructed DHS Secretary Mullin to coordinate with Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought to identify available funds with a logical connection to DHS operations. The directive, titled “Liberating the Department of Homeland Security From the Democrat-Caused Shutdown,” covers Coast Guard civilians, Federal Emergency Management Agency staff preparing disaster response operations, and cybersecurity professionals at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. These critical workers have received no compensation since February 14.
The presidential memo states these employees are struggling to provide for their families while performing essential public safety duties. Secretary Mullin warned on Day 49 of the shutdown that the situation threatens national security. “You’re literally putting the homeland at risk. You’re putting my yard, your yard, your loved ones’ yard at risk,” Mullin stated. Trump declared the circumstances now constitute an emergency compromising the nation’s security, justifying immediate executive action.
Breakthrough in Congressional Negotiations
The executive order follows Trump’s announcement of progress in negotiations to reopen DHS. House Republicans agreed to support a Senate plan funding the entire department except for portions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. The timeline for House consideration remains uncertain, as most lawmakers are on recess until the week of April 13. Trump previously used executive authority to pay Transportation Security Administration agents and reduce airport congestion across the country.
What This Means for Federal Workers
The executive action represents the most significant intervention yet to address the nearly two-month pay gap affecting thousands of federal employees. By declaring an emergency situation, Trump activated authorities to redirect available funds to compensate workers who continued performing critical homeland security functions without pay. The order aims to prevent further damage to national security readiness and emergency response capabilities while Congress works toward a permanent funding solution.