04/04/2026, 09:4604/04/2026, 09:46
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to pay employees of the Department of Homeland Security despite the ongoing dispute over its funding.
He instructs the Secretary of Homeland Security to use resources “that are appropriately and logically related to the tasks” of his ministry in coordination with the head of the US Budget Office, it said. The employees should therefore receive the remuneration and benefits that they would have received without the ministry’s shutdown.
No agreement between Democrats and Republicans
The partial standstill of government business in the ministry has now lasted 50 days this Saturday. Trump argued in his order that the current circumstances constituted an emergency that threatened U.S. security. More than 35,000 employees, including some employees of the coast guard and the disaster control agency Fema, have not received their salaries for almost two months.
Trump once again blamed the Democrats in the US Congress. Democrats and Republicans have so far been unable to agree on a budget for the Department of Homeland Security. At the center of the dispute are the controversial deportation raids by the immigration agency ICE, which reports to the Department of Homeland Security.
The US Parliament decides on the financing of authorities
According to the constitution, budgetary issues and thus the financing of authorities are a matter for Congress. Trump’s move to take payment into his own hands by using funds that have already been approved could also raise legal questions if the funds were used for a purpose other than that intended by Parliament.
The president recently announced the move on his Truth Social platform. Trump had already made a similar announcement last week for airport security personnel, who also report to the ministry. Long lines at airports were a test of patience for many Americans during the holiday season. However, the Democrats and Republicans have now come closer on this issue. (sda/dpa)