WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has recalled all furloughed employees to return to work despite the ongoing partial government shutdown, according to a notice sent to staff on Friday.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin directed that “all DHS employees, excepted and non-excepted/non-exempt” return “to a work and paid status, effective on your next regularly scheduled duty day,” the message stated. For most employees, that will mean reporting on Monday, officials said.
The recall comes as the partial shutdown, which began on Feb. 14 and affects only the Department of Homeland Security, entered its ninth week. It has furloughed a portion of the department’s workforce while many others continued working without immediate pay. A DHS spokesperson said Secretary Mullin “will be utilizing available funding to recall the entire DHS workforce” to return employees to duty.
The department has more than 270,000 employees, with roughly 90 percent previously classified as essential and required to work during the lapse in appropriations, according to earlier contingency planning and union statements. The shutdown stems from disagreements in Congress over funding and reforms related to immigration enforcement agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
President Donald Trump previously directed the use of available funds to provide back pay to DHS employees for work performed or time furloughed since mid-February. Some employees began receiving back pay in recent days covering periods through early April, DHS officials said.
A Trump administration official confirmed the recall and noted that the president’s earlier directive orders that employees be paid. Republican leaders have discussed advancing funding measures for parts of DHS, but no agreement has been reached to end the shutdown.
As of Saturday, it remained unclear how long the recall would allow full operations or whether additional funding would be required to sustain payroll beyond immediate available resources. The White House and congressional leaders have not issued further statements on the timing of a potential resolution. Details on the exact number of recalled employees and any operational impacts were not specified in the notice.
