President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that he will soon sign an order to pay all Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employees who have gone without paychecks during the lengthy partial government shutdown, which has reached a record 48 days.
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pbs.org29news.comThis executive action follows a similar move by Trump to resume pay for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees after many had called out from work, leading to significant delays at airport security lines.
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pbs.org29news.comThe latest intervention is expected to extend to other non-law enforcement employees within DHS, including those at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the US Coast Guard.
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pbs.org29news.comIn a social media post, Trump expressed sympathy for the families of federal workers, stating, "Their families have suffered far too long," and assured them that "help is on the way for our Brave and Patriotic Public Servants who have continued to work hard.".
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29news.comgmtoday.comDespite this unilateral move, the funding deadlock for some DHS needs is anticipated to continue into next week as the House considers passing a Senate plan it had previously rejected.This Senate plan would fund the majority of DHS but exclude immigration enforcement operations.
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29news.comgmtoday.comThe Republican leadership has reportedly coalesced around a two-step plan to fully fund DHS, aiming to resolve the impasse that has persisted as Congress left for its spring recess.
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pbs.orgwftv.comSenate Majority Leader John Thune noted that the House did not take up the bipartisan Senate plan during brief pro forma sessions, indicating uncertainty about the next steps.
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wftv.comadn.comSpeaker of the House Mike Johnson has shifted his stance on the Senate measure, which funds most of DHS but excludes critical agencies like US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and US Border Patrol.Johnson had previously criticized the plan but is now expected to support it, although securing backing from his own party could pose challenges.
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29news.comgmtoday.comAs the Republican leadership attempts to unify, the criticism from Democrats has intensified.Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer accused House Republicans of prolonging the shutdown and jeopardizing the livelihoods of federal workers.
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wftv.comadn.comMany in the GOP contend that ICE and Border Patrol must be included in any funding agreement.Representative Scott Perry emphasized that failing to fund these agencies would equate to defunding law enforcement and leaving the borders vulnerable.
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29news.comgmtoday.comThe budget package Trump intends to push for by June 1 is expected to secure funding for ICE and Border Patrol through the remainder of his term, aiming to shield these agencies from future funding disputes.
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29news.comgmtoday.comWhile the vast majority of DHS employees have continued to report to work, many thousands have gone without pay, contributing to rising frustrations among federal workers and air travelers alike.
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wftv.comadn.comAs the TSA has begun receiving backpay, it appears that the bottlenecks at airport security lines are starting to ease.
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gmtoday.comwftv.comIn conclusion, Trump's planned executive order reflects an urgent response to the financial distress faced by DHS employees during the ongoing government shutdown.However, significant hurdles remain in achieving a comprehensive funding resolution that satisfies all involved parties.
