(AFP) – Thousands of US homeland security employees are facing growing uncertainty over their pay after being told Friday’s check could be their last until a record-long partial government shutdown is ended. A memo from the federal government warned staff that without congressional action, funding gaps could halt future checks, US media reported, deepening anxiety among workers already strained by weeks of disruption.
The warning appeared to apply broadly across the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), though confusion quickly emerged over whether Transportation Security Administration officers — who screen passengers at US airports — would be affected. The DHS is one of the largest government agencies, employing more than 260,000 people across a wide range of roles including airport security, border enforcement, disaster response, and cybersecurity.
President Donald Trump ordered the department to find funds to compensate essential workers required to stay on the job, allowing some back pay to be issued in recent weeks. But officials say those stopgap measures may not be sustainable if the shutdown drags on. Union representatives say mixed messaging has left employees unsure whether they can rely on upcoming paychecks. “There is a feeling of increasing anxiety and uncertainty,” a spokesperson for the American Federation of Government Employees told politics news outlet The Hill.
The shutdown, which enters its eighth week on Saturday, stems from a standoff in Congress over immigration enforcement and border security funding, with Democrats seeking new limits on federal agencies and Republicans pushing to secure longer-term financing. The impasse means tens of thousands of federal workers have either been sent home or are working without guaranteed pay, with some relying on loans, food banks, or second jobs to make ends meet.
At the TSA, the strain has already disrupted operations. Absences surged at major airports earlier in the shutdown, and hundreds of officers have resigned since February, according to officials. DHS workers have been informed in a memo from department heads that they are slated to receive a check on Friday for back pay up until April 4. But they were warned not to expect further pay until Congress restores DHS funding.
Authorities warn that continued uncertainty could trigger further staffing shortages, potentially disrupting travel in the coming months, including during major events such as the FIFA World Cup. Congress is set to return from recess next week, when lawmakers will face renewed pressure to reach a deal. Republican leaders are weighing a party-line funding package for parts of DHS, though divisions within the party and uncertainty over White House support could complicate efforts to end the shutdown quickly.
© 2024 AFP
