Trump orders DHS to pay all employees despite shutdown

Politics Trump orders DHS to pay all employees despite shutdown By Joe Walsh Joe Walsh Senior Editor, Politics Joe Walsh is a senior editor for digital politics at CBS News. Joe previously covered breaking news for Forbes and local news in Boston. Read Full Bio Joe Walsh April 3, 2026 / 10:16 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google President Trump on Friday ordered the Department of Homeland Security to find a way to pay "each and every employee" of the agency, which has faced an almost two-month-long shutdown due to a congressional impasse, leaving thousands without paychecks.The president's memo directs DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought to "use funds that have a reasonable and logical nexus to the functions of DHS." It does not list out the specific funding sources that DHS plans to tap, or the exact legal justification for moving those funds around."This callous treatment of DHS employees must end in order to ensure that America is not susceptible to security threats and maintains readiness to respond to emergencies," he wrote, blaming Democrats for the shutdown. "As President of the United States, I have determined that these circumstances constitute an emergency situation compromising the Nation's security."Mr. Trump previewed the move on Thursday, writing on social media that he will "soon sign an order to pay ALL of the incredible employees at the Department of Homeland Security."The memo estimates that over 35,000 DHS employees haven't been paid, including civilian Coast Guard employees and staff at the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Cybersecurity and Information Security Agency.Other DHS staff have received paychecks as the Trump administration has attempted to move money around, including Secret Service agents and active-duty Coast Guard personnel.Employees of two immigration-focused agencies — Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection — have been pai...