President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday directing the Department of Homeland Security to keep all employees on the payroll during the partial government shutdown, which has now stretched into its 49th day, making it the longest on record.
The memo, titled "Liberating the Department of Homeland Security From the Democrat-Caused Shutdown," instructs DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to tap agency funds with a reasonable connection to departmental operations to cover wages and benefits for every staff member.
The action mirrors a similar executive order Trump issued the previous week that ensured Transportation Security Administration agents would continue receiving paychecks during the impasse.
Trump's approach sidesteps the usual congressional appropriations process by directing agency leadership to reallocate existing resources rather than seek new funding. The strategy allows critical federal workers to avoid the financial squeeze that typically accompanies shutdown periods, when employees face delayed paychecks until Congress resolves the budget standoff.
DHS encompasses multiple agencies including Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Secret Service, collectively representing thousands of workers nationwide.
The executive orders represent an attempt by the administration to minimize operational disruptions and employee hardship during the prolonged budget dispute. Whether this funding mechanism withstands legal scrutiny or sustained congressional opposition remains unclear, but it signals Trump's effort to maintain critical government functions while the shutdown persists.
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