Congressman Bill Huizenga has introduced legislation to ensure border agents, ICE officers, federal air marshals, and other Homeland Security law enforcement officers are still paid during a government shutdown.
Huizenga says if Congress fails to pass a budget, it’s still critical that Homeland Security personnel stay on the job and be compensated.
The bill is modeled after the Pay Our Troops Act and would also cover immigration officers, TSA officers, Secret Service personnel, Coast Guard members, and other DHS staff deemed essential to national security. It would also fund the staff needed to process those payments. The coverage would last through fiscal year 2026 and, if necessary, into early 2027.
Huizenga says the measure ensures “the mission-critical and dangerous work of our ICE Agents, Border Patrol Officers, and DHS law enforcement” is not disrupted by political gridlock in Washington.
