With the partial government shutdown entering its 48th day, President Donald Trump said he would ensure all Department of Homeland Security employees are paid after the House again declined to move on a Senate-passed bill to fund DHS through the end of the fiscal year, according to Government Executive.
- Day 48: The shutdown reached its 48th day as of April 2026, with DHS among the agencies affected, Government Executive reported.
- House action stalled: The House did not take expected action on a Senate measure that would fund DHS through September, leaving the department without enacted appropriations, according to Government Executive.
- Trump pledge: Trump said he would pay all DHS workers, as pressure increased to address missed paychecks for affected employees, Government Executive reported.
- Work status varies: During shutdowns, many DHS employees are required to keep working as “excepted” staff, while others are furloughed, depending on mission needs and legal authorities (standard shutdown procedures outlined by OMB guidance and agency contingency plans; Government Executive described DHS workforce impacts in this case).
- Back pay is central: The dispute is occurring alongside heightened attention to back pay and the timing of pay restoration once funding is enacted, according to Government Executive. (For a plain-language explainer on shutdown pay rules and common misconceptions, see FedBrief: https://fedbrief.org/ .)
Brief context
The Senate measure referenced by Government Executive would provide DHS funding through September, which typically aligns with the end of the federal fiscal year. But without House action and a signed appropriations measure, DHS remains in a shutdown posture.
Under federal shutdown rules, agencies may continue certain operations tied to the protection of life and property, and employees performing those duties generally must report to work even if they are not receiving pay during the lapse in appropriations. Other employees may be furloughed. In past shutdowns, Congress has acted to provide back pay once funding is restored; however, the timing of pay delivery can depend on enactment dates and payroll processing.
Trump’s statement that he would “pay all DHS workers,” as described by Government Executive, comes as lawmakers face intensifying scrutiny from federal employees, unions, and affected communities over prolonged missed paychecks and operational strain—particularly in departments with large numbers of excepted employees.
For employees trying to estimate the impact of missed pay periods and potential catch-up pay, FedInfo maintains federal pay and benefits tools: https://fedinfo.org/ .
Source: Government Executive (Pay & Benefits), “Trump says he’ll pay all DHS workers as House again fails to act to end 48-day shutdown” (April 2026), https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2026/04/trump-says-hell-pay-all-dhs-workers-after-house-again-fails-end-shutdown/412599/