Markwayne Mullin, the DHS secretary, announced that employees affected by the government shutdown will receive their back pay by Friday.

Markwayne Mullin, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), stated on Tuesday that employees affected by the government shutdown will receive back pay by the end of the week. During his first official visit to Chimney Rock, North Carolina, Mullin said that employees who have worked without pay for six weeks will have the money in their accounts soon. He mentioned that most payments will be available by Friday, although some financial institutions may process payments only on Monday. Mullin explained that these payments are possible due to an executive action and existing financial flexibility, but warned that future pay for DHS employees, except for those in law enforcement, depends on Congress. The Secretary criticized Democrats for delaying funding, comparing DHS to the Pentagon, the largest federal agency. Although there is a funding interruption, Mullin emphasized that DHS operations continue, thanking employees who continue to come to work without the certainty of pay. He mentioned that the Trump administration relies on a provision that allows limited movement of funds in emergency situations, but stressed that this is not a long-term solution.