Federal employee unions and advocacy groups are urging Congress and the White House to end the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, warning that tens of thousands of employees are continuing to work without pay as the funding lapse drags on. The groups say the prolonged shutdown is triggering immediate financial strain for DHS personnel and their families, particularly for frontline employees who are required to report to duty.
- Who is affected: DHS employees designated “excepted” are working without pay during the lapse, while other employees are furloughed, according to Federal News Network (FNN).
- What unions and groups are demanding: Federal employee unions and advocacy organizations are calling for an immediate end to the shutdown and a full-year funding agreement for DHS, FNN reported.
- Pay status: Employees performing excepted work are generally paid only after appropriations are enacted; furloughed employees are not working and also miss paychecks during the lapse, per FNN’s reporting.
- Back pay: Federal law provides for back pay to federal employees affected by a shutdown once funding is restored, but workers can still face cash-flow crises while pay is delayed, according to FNN.
- Financial strain: The groups cited rising concerns about missed rent or mortgage payments, child care costs, and other bills as the shutdown continues, FNN reported.
- Operational impacts: The unions and organizations warned that prolonged uncertainty harms morale and retention and adds stress to mission-critical workforces, including personnel supporting security and emergency functions, according to FNN.
The shutdown stems from a lapse in appropriations for DHS. During a funding lapse, agencies must follow shutdown plans that determine which employees are “excepted” and must keep working to protect life and property or support other legally required functions. The unions and advocacy groups argue that requiring employees to work without timely pay is unsustainable and increases risk for the workforce and the department’s operations, according to FNN.
For affected employees, the immediate issue is not whether back pay will eventually arrive, but whether households can bridge the gap between missed paychecks. Employees may want to review their agency’s shutdown guidance, keep records of hours worked if they are excepted, and monitor official payroll updates once a funding deal is reached. For general information on shutdown pay rules and common misconceptions, see FedBrief: https://fedbrief.org/ (shutdown policy explainers). For pay and budgeting references, see FedInfo: https://fedinfo.org/ (pay and benefits guides).
Source: Federal News Network — “Federal employee unions, organizations call for an end to DHS shutdown” (March 2026), https://federalnewsnetwork.com/government-shutdown/2026/03/federal-employee-unions-organizations-call-for-an-end-to-dhs-shutdown/