Many Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees required to keep working during the ongoing government shutdown are now missing what would have been their first full paychecks, intensifying financial strain across mission-critical components, according to Federal News Network.
- Who’s affected: DHS “excepted” employees — those required to work during a lapse in appropriations — are reporting missed full paychecks as the shutdown continues, Federal News Network reported.
- Pay status: Excepted employees are working without pay until Congress passes a funding bill, with back pay expected after appropriations are restored, consistent with longstanding shutdown policy and past shutdown practice cited by Federal News Network.
- Operational pressure: The lapse is increasing strain on DHS workplaces that rely heavily on around-the-clock staffing, including security, enforcement, and emergency response functions, according to the report.
- Financial impacts: Federal News Network reported employees are facing immediate household cash-flow problems — including difficulty covering rent/mortgage, utilities, childcare, and commuting costs — as the shutdown drags on.
- Workforce ripple effects: The report described growing concern about morale and retention among employees asked to continue reporting to duty without a paycheck.
- Broader shutdown mechanics: Other DHS personnel who are not excepted are generally furloughed and not permitted to work until funding is restored, Federal News Network noted.
Brief context: During a shutdown triggered by a lapse in appropriations, agencies must follow strict rules under the Antideficiency Act, which limits federal work to activities that are legally authorized or necessary to protect life and property. DHS typically has a significant share of employees designated as excepted due to national security and public safety missions. Federal News Network’s report underscores that, as the shutdown timeline extends into another pay period, the practical consequences shift from inconvenience to acute financial hardship for employees still required to report to work.
For federal employees trying to plan around missed checks, the most immediate considerations are cash management and understanding what pay may be delayed. Employees may want to review how shutdown status can affect pay timing and related benefits decisions; resources such as FedInfo’s pay guides can help employees estimate impacts by pay plan and pay period (https://fedinfo.org).
Source: Federal News Network — Pay, “Many DHS employees miss first full paychecks as shutdown continues” (March 2026), https://federalnewsnetwork.com/government-shutdown/2026/03/many-dhs-employees-miss-first-full-paychecks-as-shutdown-continues/