President Donald Trump said he will sign an executive order directing the government to resume pay for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees who have missed paychecks during the ongoing partial government shutdown, according to Federal News Network. The announcement comes as negotiations to reopen the government remain stalled and as lawmakers prepare for another test vote on a stopgap funding plan.
- Who it affects: DHS employees, including major components such as TSA, CBP, ICE, FEMA, and the Coast Guard (DHS workforce broadly).
- What Trump said: Trump said he’ll sign an executive order to restart pay for DHS employees who have gone without pay during the shutdown, per Federal News Network.
- Why it matters: The action is framed as a way to bypass Congress and provide near-term relief while appropriations talks continue, Federal News Network reported.
- Related action: The move follows a similar step aimed at restoring pay for TSA workers, according to the report.
- Legislative backdrop: Federal News Network reported a Republican plan to fund Homeland Security could receive its first test vote Thursday, underscoring that Congress is still pursuing a legislative path even as the White House signals executive action.
- Back pay status: Federal News Network described the order as intended to resume pay for missed paychecks; the report did not specify in the excerpted details whether the order covers retroactive back pay, the timing of payments, or how agencies would implement it.
Brief context
The partial shutdown has left many federal employees either furloughed or working as excepted employees without pay until funding is restored. DHS is among the departments most visible to the public during shutdowns because of its frontline operational roles, including airport security screening and border operations.
Federal News Network reported Trump’s planned executive order is being positioned as an administrative workaround while appropriations negotiations remain deadlocked. The report also notes the political pressure point: House Republicans are moving a DHS-focused funding plan that could face an early procedural test, even as the White House signals it may act unilaterally to address missed paychecks.
For employees trying to plan household budgets, the key near-term question is implementation: whether payroll systems can restart quickly, which DHS components are covered, and whether any resumed pay would be limited to current pay periods or also address missed checks. DHS employees should watch for official guidance from their component’s HR/payroll channels once an order is signed.
Source: Federal News Network — “Republican plan to fund Homeland Security could get first test vote on Thursday” (April 2026), https://federalnewsnetwork.com/government-shutdown/2026/04/republican-plan-to-fund-homeland-security-could-get-first-test-vote-on-thursday/