Story perspectives

Trump Allocates Funds for 35,000 DHS Workers Amid Shutdown

4/11/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump directed the use of existing funds for back pay, allowing more than 35,000 Department of Homeland Security employees to receive paychecks on Friday amid a record-long shutdown.
House Republicans will not consider reopening the department until they see progress on immigration enforcement funding, creating uncertainty about future payments.
The Department of Homeland Security has operated without approved funding for nearly two months, hindering its functions.

History

Historical Context

The 2013 U.S. government shutdown, lasting 16 days, resulted from Congress's failure to pass funding legislation, affecting 800,000 federal employees and causing an estimated $24 billion economic loss. This event underscored ongoing conflicts between Congress and the executive branch over budgetary control and immigration policy, a struggle that continues to impact federal operations and employee compensation today.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump directed the use of existing funds for back pay, allowing more than 35,000 Department of Homeland Security employees to receive paychecks on Friday amid a record-long shutdown.
House Republicans will not consider reopening the department until they see progress on immigration enforcement funding, creating uncertainty about future payments.
The Department of Homeland Security has operated without approved funding for nearly two months, hindering its functions.

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