The Department of Homeland Security has ordered thousands of furloughed employees back to work amid the ongoing partial government shutdown, according to internal emails obtained by CBS News.
The move underscored mounting pressure on federal operations as the funding stalemate continues in Washington.
In an April 10 notice, DHS Chief Human Capital Officer La' Toya Prieur told staff, "All DHS employees are being returned to a work and paid status," instructing them to report "on your next regularly scheduled duty day."
A separate message to FEMA employees was even more direct: "All FEMA employees will be placed in exempt status and are expected to report in person to their normal duty station."
The directive marks a significant departure from standard shutdown procedures, where only "excepted" employees continue working, typically without pay, while others are furloughed.
DHS said it is relying on limited funding streams to bring workers back, noting in its communication that "DHS is using available funds to ensure employees are paid" while cautioning that employees would be notified if those funds are exhausted.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said most workers have now received back pay covering missed periods since the shutdown began Feb. 14 but warned future paychecks remain uncertain without congressional action.
"Going forward, we've got to wait on Congress," Mullin said, describing the payments as a temporary fix.
The move raises legal and budgetary concerns, as it appears to stretch traditional interpretations of the Antideficiency Act by expanding what qualifies as essential work during a lapse in funding.
Employees have also been warned that "failure to report for duty as directed may result in administrative or disciplinary action," according to internal communications.
The disruption comes as the partial shutdown continues to ripple across the federal government, driven by a political standoff over immigration policy.
Democrats have leveraged the funding lapse in an effort to curtail funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, contributing to leadership turmoil at DHS. Former Secretary Kristi Noem was forced out of her role last month amid the pressure and was replaced by Mullin.
While the Senate has advanced a funding proposal that excludes ICE and Customs and Border Protection, House Republicans are pushing to fund those agencies separately through budget reconciliation, prolonging the impasse.
James Morley III ✉
James Morley III is a writer with more than two decades of experience in entertainment, travel, technology, and science and nature.
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