WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is alerting lawmakers that money to compensate Department of Homeland Security employees will be depleted by May, raising concerns about potential airport delays and national security risks as Congress continues to delay action on ending the agency’s historic funding shortage.
The Office of Management and Budget delivered a memo to legislators Tuesday evening, stating that emergency funds President Trump allocated through executive orders to pay Transportation Security Administration employees and other DHS workers will be exhausted next month. The memo urged the House to swiftly pass the budget measure that senators approved during an overnight session last week, which would establish a pathway for complete department funding.
“DHS will soon run out of critical operating funds, placing essential personnel and operations at risk,” the memo said.
The administration’s urgent appeal may assist House Speaker Mike Johnson, whose slim Republican majority has been paralyzed by internal party disagreements on multiple pending matters, including the Homeland Security budget dispute that has brought legislative progress to a near halt.
The House is anticipated to vote Wednesday on the Senate budget measure designed to initiate a complex procedure that would eventually restore department funding. The administration cautioned GOP members against proposing modifications that could delay approval.
“Restoring funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has never been more urgent, as demonstrated by recent events,” the memo said, referencing last weekend’s incident when an armed individual attempted to breach the annual White House correspondents’ dinner attended by Trump, the vice president, and senior Cabinet members.
The Department of Homeland Security has operated without standard funding for more than two months following Democrats’ refusal to authorize Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol funding without operational reforms after fatalities occurred during protests against Trump’s deportation policies.
Immigration enforcement personnel have primarily received compensation through additional funding — approximately $170 billion — that Congress authorized as part of Trump’s tax reduction legislation last year. However, other employees, including TSA staff, have depended on Trump’s executive intervention to guarantee their wages.
With payroll expenses exceeding $1.6 billion biweekly, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin recently indicated those emergency funds are diminishing.
Congressional Republicans from both chambers have pursued an independent approach, seeking to approve Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol funding without Democratic support. Their goal is securing $70 billion for immigration operations throughout Trump’s remaining term to prevent future disruptions.
This complex procedure, identical to the method used for Trump’s tax legislation last year, will unfold across several weeks.
The Senate initiated the process last week and now awaits House action. After the budget resolution receives approval, both chambers must develop the actual funding legislation, which typically requires weeks to complete.
Meanwhile, Johnson is expected to quickly address legislation this week that would fund remaining Homeland Security components, including TSA, the Coast Guard, and other agencies.
This bipartisan measure has Democratic backing and already cleared the Senate a month ago, when Republicans reluctantly agreed to separate the immigration-related funding that Democrats opposed. However, House progress has stalled as Republicans in that chamber disagreed with the Senate’s strategy.
