D.H.S. Will Run Out of Money for Paychecks in May, Secretary Says
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin warned that the department will run out of funds to pay employees by early May if Congress does not reach a deal to reopen the department.
- Mullin stated that President Trump cannot issue another executive order to allocate funds because no money remains available for payroll.
- The funding currently used to pay employees comes from a portion of a $170 billion domestic policy bill, but payroll costs exceed $1.6 billion every two weeks, depleting resources rapidly.
- Over 90% of the department’s 260,000 workers are essential and continue working without pay, causing financial strain and frustration among employees.
- The shutdown has led to staffing shortages at airports, resulting in long security lines and missed flights, though the situation improved after TSA employees received back pay in late March.
