Washington, D.C. – In a significant move during the ongoing government shutdown, more than 70,000 law enforcement officers across the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are set to receive pay on October 22 for hours worked during the closure. The announcement was made by DHS Secretary Noem, who emphasized that officers serving in critical roles, including Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Secret Service, and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), will be compensated.
Noem described the upcoming payments as a “super check,” covering four lost workdays, accumulated overtime, and the next pay period. She highlighted that the department had developed an “innovative solution” to ensure that members of the U.S. Coast Guard, who had gone unpaid during the last shutdown, receive compensation. The Coast Guard is a military branch that operates under DHS, and the step marks a notable shift in how the department handles payments during federal closures.
However, the source of funds for these payments remains unclear. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has confirmed that, in the case of military personnel, funds were redirected from Pentagon research and development budgets. DHS and OMB have not disclosed additional details regarding the funding for other officers.
President Donald Trump also commented on the situation earlier this week, stating, “We got the people that we want paid, paid, and we want the FBI paid. We want the military paid.” He noted that while essential workers are being compensated, the administration is simultaneously “terminating tremendous numbers of Democrat projects,” reflecting ongoing partisan debates over federal spending priorities.
In parallel with domestic developments, U.S.-Ukraine relations are also in focus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to meet President Trump at the White House to request additional long-range weapons capable of striking targets inside Russian territory. Sources indicate that the U.S. has increased intelligence sharing with Ukraine to include information on deeper Russian targets, aiming to influence Moscow’s strategic calculations and pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to consider peace negotiations.
The meeting comes after a recent summit in Alaska between Trump and Putin failed to produce a lasting agreement. U.S. officials hope the new intelligence-sharing measures and military support could reopen diplomatic channels that had stalled. The Financial Times reported that American support for Ukraine’s campaign targeting Russian energy infrastructure reflects a strategic shift in the U.S. approach toward the ongoing conflict.
As the government shutdown continues, the measures taken by DHS to ensure law enforcement officers are paid underscore the administration’s focus on maintaining operational readiness in key security agencies. While questions remain about the funding sources, the payments represent a critical lifeline for tens of thousands of federal workers who continued serving during the federal closure.
The developments also highlight broader challenges in U.S. governance, balancing domestic administrative priorities with international strategic interests, particularly in the context of Ukraine-Russia tensions.