President Trump Orders DHS to Pay Employees Amid Shutdown, Citing Security Concerns
President Trump has directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure payment for all its employees despite an ongoing shutdown that has lasted nearly two months. The shutdown resulted from a congressional impasse over immigration enforcement policy, leaving thousands of DHS employees without paychecks. In a memo, President Trump instructed DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought to identify funds that can be used to pay the employees, emphasizing the need to maintain national security and emergency readiness. The memo highlights that over 35,000 DHS employees, including civilian Coast Guard staff and personnel at the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Cybersecurity and Information Security Agency, have not been paid. The shutdown began in mid-February following a dispute over immigration policy, particularly funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). 
