The Department of Homeland Security is warning employees that the paycheck scheduled for Friday could be the last one they receive if Congress does not pass funding to end a shutdown, according to an internal message reported by The Hill. The notice has triggered fresh concern across DHS components, with particular confusion over whether the warning applies to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers.
- What DHS told employees: DHS circulated a warning that Friday’s payday may be the last paycheck until appropriations are enacted, The Hill reported.
- Why: DHS lacks enacted funding during a shutdown and may be unable to continue issuing paychecks even to employees required to work.
- Who is affected: The message was directed broadly to DHS personnel, but it was unclear whether TSA employees were included in the warning, according to The Hill.
- TSA pay status unclear: TSA’s workforce includes screeners and other personnel with different pay and personnel systems than most GS employees, contributing to uncertainty about how the DHS warning applies, The Hill reported.
- Back pay developments: Some TSA employees have begun receiving back pay connected to the president’s effort to cover missed wages, The Hill reported, even as broader shutdown-related pay questions persist.
- Bottom line for employees: The warning signals possible pay delays absent congressional action, though employees typically receive back pay after shutdowns when Congress authorizes it.
Brief context: During a lapse in appropriations, many federal employees are either furloughed or required to work as “excepted” employees. In recent shutdowns, Congress has later passed legislation providing back pay to affected federal workers, but the timing of pay can still become a near-term problem if agencies cannot process payroll without appropriations. DHS’s warning underscores that risk and adds pressure on lawmakers to finalize a funding deal.
For employees trying to plan: If you are in a DHS component, monitor official guidance from your chain of command and your component’s HR/payroll office for component-specific instructions. If you are a TSA employee, watch for TSA-specific updates clarifying whether the DHS-wide warning applies to your pay schedule and what category of employee you are considered during a shutdown. For general shutdown pay rules and common misconceptions, see FedBrief’s explainer: https://fedbrief.org/ (general guidance; always defer to agency instructions).
Source: The Hill — “DHS warns employees Friday could be last paycheck during shutdown; TSA pay status unclear” (https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/5824787-tsa-workers-paycheck-warning/)