President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the Department of Homeland Security to pay all of its employees during the partial government shutdown, which is nearing 50 days.
The presidential memorandum instructs DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and the Office of Management and Budget to issue paychecks, including back pay, to the agency’s tens of thousands of employees, according to a White House official.
The move comes as the shutdown continues to affect numerous federal agencies, with no immediate resolution in sight. DHS personnel have faced uncertainty as funding remains unresolved in Congress.
It was not immediately clear how the order would be implemented or whether other agencies will follow suit. The administration has faced criticism over the prolonged shutdown, which has left thousands of federal workers without pay.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
