The American Federation of Government Employees is urging Congress to immediately guarantee pay for all Department of Homeland Security employees affected by the ongoing government shutdown, warning that both furloughed staff and those required to work risk missing paychecks without a fix.
- Who’s calling for action: The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest federal employee union, according to Federal News Network.
- Who AFGE says should be covered: All DHS employees impacted by the shutdown — including furloughed workers and “excepted” employees who are required to report to duty.
- What AFGE wants Congress to do: Pass legislation to guarantee pay during the shutdown, not just back pay after it ends, Federal News Network reported.
- Why it matters now: AFGE argues that without an immediate guarantee, DHS personnel could face missed paychecks even while continuing mission-critical work.
- Agencies affected: The union’s request is focused on DHS, which includes components such as TSA, CBP, ICE, FEMA, and the U.S. Coast Guard, among others.
- Policy backdrop: Under current shutdown rules, many “excepted” employees must work but may not be paid until after appropriations are restored; Congress has previously enacted back pay protections for federal workers after shutdowns.
AFGE’s push comes as lawmakers face renewed pressure to address the paycheck gap that can hit frontline and support personnel across DHS during a funding lapse. Federal News Network reported that the union is pressing Congress to act “immediately” to ensure pay continues for DHS employees during the shutdown, rather than relying solely on retroactive back pay once the shutdown ends.
The issue is particularly acute for DHS because large parts of the department’s workforce are designated “excepted” and must continue reporting for duty to maintain security, border operations, disaster response, and other essential functions. During a shutdown, those employees may be required to work even as pay is delayed, creating financial strain for workers who still have rent, child care, and other bills due on normal schedules.
For federal employees and service members who track shutdown policy, the distinction is critical: back pay addresses compensation after the fact, while a pay guarantee during a shutdown aims to prevent the missed-paycheck problem altogether. Employees looking to understand how shutdown status can affect pay timing and leave rules can reference FedBrief’s shutdown policy explainers (https://fedbrief.org) for general guidance.
Source: Federal News Network — Unions (March 2026), “Federal union calls for Congress to pay all DHS employees during shutdown,” https://federalnewsnetwork.com/federal-newscast/2026/03/federal-union-calls-for-congress-to-pay-all-dhs-employees-during-shutdown/