DHS employees will start receiving back pay beginning Friday after the department redirected internal funding to cover missed paychecks through April 4, even as the government shutdown continues, according to Federal News Network.
- Who’s affected: Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees impacted by the shutdown-related lapse in appropriations
- What’s happening: DHS will issue back pay starting Friday to make employees whole for missed pay during the shutdown period covered by the funding shift
- Coverage window: Back pay is expected to cover payroll through April 4
- How DHS is paying it: The department redirected funding to cover the near-term payroll obligation, Federal News Network reported
- What’s uncertain: Pay beyond April 4 is not assured and is expected to depend on Congress ending the shutdown and restoring full appropriations, according to the report
- Why it matters: Missed paychecks during a shutdown can affect cash flow, bill payments, and financial planning for federal employees and families
DHS’s move provides short-term relief for employees who have gone without pay during the shutdown, but it does not resolve the underlying funding lapse. Federal News Network reported that DHS is using redirected funding to cover payroll through April 4, creating a limited runway while the broader shutdown continues.
For employees, the immediate impact is that back pay is expected to begin arriving Friday, reducing the gap created by missed paychecks. However, the report underscores that the department’s ability to continue paying employees after April 4 remains unclear and is likely tied to congressional action on appropriations.
Employees should monitor official DHS communications for payroll timing details, including when deposits will hit accounts, and should be prepared for the possibility of renewed pay disruptions if the shutdown extends beyond the department’s current funding coverage. For general federal pay timing and planning tools, employees can reference FedInfo’s pay resources (https://fedinfo.org).
Source: Federal News Network (FNN), “DHS staff to get back pay starting Friday” (April 2026), https://federalnewsnetwork.com/government-shutdown/2026/04/dhs-staff-to-get-back-pay-starting-friday/