The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding lapse has surpassed 44 days, setting a new record for the longest government shutdown affecting the department, as President Donald Trump directed DHS to redirect available funds to continue paying Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners required to report to work.
- Record length: The DHS shutdown exceeded 44 days, surpassing the prior record length for a government shutdown impacting DHS operations, according to NARFE News.
- Who gets paid: TSA employees who are required to work during the lapse will continue receiving paychecks under the directive, NARFE News reported.
- Directive issued: President Donald Trump ordered DHS to redirect available funds to cover TSA payroll during the funding gap, according to NARFE News.
- Who is affected: The lapse continues to disrupt normal DHS operations, with many employees typically facing furloughs or working without pay depending on their status as “excepted” or “non-excepted,” as described by NARFE News.
- Appropriations issue: The shutdown stems from a lapse in appropriations for DHS, meaning spending authority expired without enacted funding, per NARFE News.
What it means for you
For TSA screeners and other DHS personnel, the key issue is whether your job is designated excepted (required to work) or non-excepted (furloughed). Under the Trump directive described by NARFE, TSA screeners required to remain on duty will continue to receive pay funded through redirected DHS resources.
However, the continued lapse in appropriations still creates uncertainty across DHS components. Even when some employees are paid through redirected or otherwise available funds, shutdown conditions can affect scheduling, training, travel, contracting, and administrative support. Employees should follow agency guidance and official HR communications on timekeeping, reporting requirements, and any changes to pay processing.
Federal employees tracking shutdown impacts on pay and status can review general shutdown rules and terminology through FedBrief (fedbrief.org), including how “excepted” work is treated during a lapse in appropriations.
Brief context
Government shutdowns occur when Congress does not pass, and the president does not sign, appropriations funding required for agencies to operate. During funding lapses, agencies generally must stop non-excepted activities, while employees performing work tied to safety of human life or protection of property may be required to continue working. NARFE News reported that the DHS lapse has now exceeded 44 days and that the White House directed DHS to use available funds to keep TSA screeners paid while the shutdown continues.
Source: NARFE News, March 31, 2026 — https://www.narfe.org/blog/2026/03/31/dhs-shutdown-hits-record-length-but-tsa-agents-receive-pay/