DHS Warns Paycheck Funds to Run Out in Early May; Senate Moves on $70B Immigration Funding Plan
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) says it will run out of money to pay DHS workers in early May, unless the record-long shutdown is resolved. This as the Senate took a crucial step toward advancing funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin told Fox News the agency is spending about $1.6 billion every payroll period to pay the entire department, with the money being drawn from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
“After we get through April, which I got two more weeks, I’ve got one payroll left, and there are no more emergency funds, so the president can’t do another executive order for us to use money, because there’s no more money,” said Secretary Mullin.
President Trump first ordered DHS to find a way to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees in late March to trim long airport security lines. A subsequent memo ordered the department to find a way to pay all DHS employees.
Union officials warned that continued disruptions could affect staffing at airports nationwide.
“You will find people not being able to come to work,” said Johnny Jones, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) TSA Council 100 union.
The TSA also said delays in funding are limiting its ability to deploy new checkpoint screening technology.
DHS Leaders Warn of Impacts
The warnings come after leaders of other DHS components, including the U.S. Coast Guard, CBP, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the U.S. Secret Service told lawmakers that the ten-week shutdown is affecting everything from training to keeping the lights on.
“We also have over 5,000 unpaid utility bills, over a hundred providers that have threatened to cut off electricity and water to our Coast Guard stations and air stations,” said Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Kevin Lunday.
Senate Takes First Step on Reconciliation Package
Meanwhile, Senate Republicans took a step toward ending the shutdown, although much work remains ahead.
In a late night “vote-a-rama,” the Senate voted 50-48 for a budget blueprint that lays the groundwork for passing a reconciliation bill funding ICE and CBP without Democratic support.
The resolution calls on the Senate and House Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees to write legislation to provide up to $70 billion in funding by May 15.
The move from Republicans to go it alone comes after negotiations with Democrats on curbing immigration enforcement tactics didn’t produce breakthroughs.
“I am sad that we’re having to do this, but you gave us no choice,” said Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC), before the vote.
Democrats sharply criticized the approach.
“Republicans want to shell out billions of dollars to Donald Trump’s private army without any common-sense restraints or reforms,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
A separate funding bill covering most DHS operations — excluding ICE and CBP — has passed the Senate and awaits action in the House, where some Republicans are withholding support pending progress on the reconciliation package.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) voiced support but cautioned against splitting agency funding efforts.
“The sequencing is important. We’ve got to make sure we don’t isolate and make an orphan out of key agencies of the department,” said Speaker Johnson.
