Liberating the Department of Homeland Security From the Democrat-Caused Shutdown

The White House on April 3 issued a memorandum titled Liberating the Department of Homeland Security From the Democrat-Caused Shutdown, directing the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of Management and Budget to use available funds to keep DHS employees paid during the shutdown.

The memorandum says agencies should identify money with a “reasonable and logical nexus” to DHS functions so that compensation and benefits can continue for employees. The White House said more than 35,000 DHS employees, including Coast Guard civilians, FEMA staff and CISA professionals, had gone without pay for nearly two months.

The move follows earlier reporting by AP that President Trump planned to sign an order to pay DHS employees, and it comes after House Republicans passed legislation on March 27 that they said would fully reopen DHS and pay all personnel. Congress has not yet resolved the broader funding fight.

The White House describes the shutdown as a national security problem and casts the memorandum as emergency action to protect critical operations. AP, by contrast, reported that the move bypasses Congress while the funding lapse continues.

The action is the latest step in a shutdown fight that has already affected TSA workers and other DHS personnel. AP reported on March 30 that TSA workers had begun receiving back pay after an earlier Trump order focused on TSA pay.

The legality and implementation of the new memorandum remain open questions, and the larger DHS funding dispute is still unresolved.