Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin warned that the Department of Homeland Security is close to exhausting its emergency funding and could be unable to keep paying employees in early May, as Congress remains deadlocked on a path to end the shutdown and restore full-year appropriations.
- Agency at risk: DHS may run out of emergency payroll funds in early May, according to Secretary Markwayne Mullin, as reported by Federal News Network (FNN).
- Immediate impact: If the funds are depleted, DHS could lose the ability to continue paying staff, depending on what authorities and cash balances remain available, FNN reported.
- Shutdown context: Mullin’s warning comes while Congress has not finalized a plan to reopen the government and provide full funding for DHS, FNN reported.
- Workforce stakes: DHS includes large operational workforces—such as CBP, TSA, FEMA, ICE, USCIS, and the U.S. Coast Guard—that are typically central to shutdown continuity planning. (FNN attributed the warning to DHS leadership.)
- Timing: The department’s projected payroll crunch point is early May, placing pressure on lawmakers to act before the next major payroll cycle, according to FNN.
DHS, like other agencies, can sometimes rely on limited stopgap measures during a shutdown—such as carryover balances, fee-funded activities, and other legally available funding sources—but those options are finite and vary by component. Mullin’s statement signals DHS believes it is nearing the end of what it can legally use to keep payroll running without enacted appropriations, according to FNN’s reporting.
For federal employees and service members assigned to DHS components, the practical question is whether pay will continue uninterrupted if the shutdown persists into May. Historically, shutdowns can involve a mix of excepted employees (required to work) and furloughed employees (ordered not to work), with back pay often addressed later by Congress. Mullin’s warning focuses specifically on the department’s ability to issue pay—a separate problem from whether employees are required to report to duty.
Employees should watch for component-level guidance on duty status, timekeeping, and payroll procedures. For general shutdown pay rules and common misconceptions, see FedBrief’s explainer: https://fedbrief.org/ (shutdown coverage).
Source: Federal News Network — “Mullin: DHS to run out of emergency funds to pay staff in early May” (FNN — Budget), April 2026. https://federalnewsnetwork.com/government-shutdown/2026/04/mullin-dhs-to-run-out-of-emergency-funds-to-pay-staff-in-early-may/