DHS calling furloughed staff back to work despite shutdown

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is recalling all furloughed Department of Homeland Security staff to report to their next scheduled shift, despite the ongoing partial government shutdown.

In an official message sent to DHS employees late Friday afternoon, staff were told that “all DHS employees, excepted and non-excepted/non-exempt” are to be returned “to a work and paid status, effective on your next regularly scheduled duty day.”

DHS has been operating under a shutdown since Feb. 14, as Congress has yet to agree to a fiscal 2026 funding measure for the department. Many DHS staff are “excepted” and required to work through the shutdown, but thousands of civilian employees have been furloughed.

Read more at Federal News Network