The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) is urging Congress and the Biden administration to pass a bipartisan funding bill and enter “good-faith negotiations” to end a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown that the group says has lasted more than five weeks and forced more than 100,000 DHS employees to work without pay.
- Who is calling for action: NARFE, representing federal employees and retirees, in a statement published March 24, 2026.
- What NARFE wants: Passage of a bipartisan bill and good-faith negotiations to reopen DHS and restore normal operations, according to NARFE.
- Length of shutdown cited: More than five weeks, per NARFE.
- Workforce impact cited: Over 100,000 DHS employees required to work without pay, according to NARFE.
- Pay and labor concerns raised: NARFE highlighted the immediate financial strain on employees and the disruption to federal operations, and pointed to the need for a durable resolution through negotiations, per its statement.
- Back pay: NARFE’s statement emphasized the pay impacts on the workforce; federal shutdown back pay is typically addressed through legislation after shutdowns, but NARFE’s post focused on ending the lapse and restoring pay as quickly as possible.
NARFE’s call comes as the DHS shutdown continues into a sixth week, affecting employees across DHS components who are designated “excepted” and required to report to duty without receiving pay during the lapse in appropriations. NARFE said the prolonged shutdown is placing significant burdens on frontline personnel and their families, and it urged policymakers to move quickly to reopen the department.
In its March 24 post, NARFE framed the solution as two-track: immediate passage of a bipartisan bill to end the shutdown, paired with negotiations to prevent recurring funding breakdowns. The organization also tied the shutdown’s operational disruptions to workforce stability—an issue that can affect recruitment, retention, and employee morale, particularly when employees are required to work without pay for extended periods.
For federal employees trying to track shutdown-related pay outcomes and planning considerations, see FedInfo’s guide resources on federal pay and benefits: https://fedinfo.org/ (general reference). For policy background on shutdown mechanics and common misconceptions, see FedBrief: https://fedbrief.org/ (general reference).
Source: NARFE News, “NARFE urges passage of bipartisan bill, good-faith negotiations on homeland security to end DHS shutdown” (March 24, 2026), https://www.narfe.org/blog/2026/03/24/narfe-urges-passage-of-bipartisan-bill-good-faith-negotiations-on-homeland-security-to-end-dhs-shutdown/