U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plans to redirect previously authorized funds to keep paying more than 57,600 employees during the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, aiming to reduce the number of personnel working without pay while DHS appropriations remain lapsed, according to Federal News Network.
- Who gets paid: CBP said the funding shift would exempt and continue paying more than 57,600 employees during the DHS shutdown.
- What CBP is doing: The agency plans to divert funding authorized under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” to cover payroll, Federal News Network reported.
- Why it matters: The move is intended to reduce the number of CBP personnel working without pay while the broader DHS funding lapse continues.
- What’s not resolved: The action does not end the shutdown or restore full DHS funding; it is a stopgap for certain CBP payroll costs, according to the report.
- Scope: The report focuses on CBP; other DHS components may face different payroll constraints depending on available authorities and funding.
CBP is one of DHS’s largest operational components, with a workforce that includes Border Patrol agents, CBP officers at ports of entry, Air and Marine Operations personnel, and mission-support staff. During a DHS shutdown, many employees are typically required to continue working as “excepted” personnel, but may do so without pay until appropriations are enacted. CBP’s plan, as described by Federal News Network, would use a separate pot of money—authorized under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act—to keep paychecks flowing for a significant number of employees even while the shutdown persists.
For federal employees and service members who interact with CBP—particularly those stationed at or traveling through ports of entry—the funding diversion could help sustain staffing stability and reduce payroll disruptions that can ripple into scheduling, overtime, and mission support functions. For CBP employees, the immediate impact is straightforward: some who might otherwise work without pay could remain in a paid status as long as the redirected funds remain available and legally applicable.
Workers should still monitor official agency guidance on pay status, timekeeping, and shutdown procedures. For general shutdown pay rules and back pay mechanics, see FedBrief’s explainer: https://fedbrief.org/ (government shutdown coverage).
Source: Federal News Network — Pay (Feb. 2026), “CBP to divert funding to pay some employees during DHS shutdown,” https://federalnewsnetwork.com/government-shutdown/2026/02/cbp-to-divert-funding-to-pay-some-employees-during-dhs-shutdown/