Why It Matters
The ongoing partial shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security continues to affect thousands of federal employees across the country, including those stationed in New Hampshire whose work spans border security, emergency management, and immigration enforcement. The prolonged funding dispute has left workers without pay and raised questions about the stability of critical national security operations.
With Congress on a two-week spring recess and no immediate legislative resolution in sight, the path to ending the shutdown has grown more uncertain — though President Trump’s pledge of executive action may offer a temporary remedy.
What Happened
The U.S. Senate approved legislation on April 2, 2026 that would end the shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security, sending the same bill it passed the previous week to the House of Representatives. However, the House did not take action during a brief pro forma session held shortly after the Senate vote.
President Donald Trump responded to the impasse later that morning with a social media post stating he “will soon sign an order to pay ALL of the incredible employees at the Department of Homeland Security.” The president did not specify a timeline or identify the funding source for such an order.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for clarification on the proposed executive action. Speaker Mike Johnson’s office also did not respond to inquiries about when the House might take up the Senate-passed bill.
House members are not scheduled to return from their two-week spring recess until April 14. The House had an opportunity to pass the measure during its own pro forma session held approximately one hour after the Senate vote but chose not to act.
By the Numbers
Pro forma sessions are held approximately every three days when Congress is in recess, designed primarily to prevent the president from making recess appointments rather than to conduct legislative business.
The Department of Homeland Security employs roughly 260,000 workers across its various agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, FEMA, the Secret Service, and the Transportation Security Administration.
The Senate has now passed the same funding bill at least twice in the span of a week, with the House declining to act on either occasion. The House’s next scheduled return to session is April 14 — meaning the shutdown could extend at least another 12 days if no executive action or emergency session intervenes.
The DHS shutdown is operating as a partial government shutdown, with many employees classified as essential and required to work without pay until the funding gap is resolved.
Zoom Out
The DHS shutdown is unfolding against a broader backdrop of political tension between the executive and legislative branches over federal spending and immigration policy. Government shutdowns affecting individual departments have become an increasingly common feature of divided government in Washington, with DHS frequently at the center of funding disputes due to its role in border enforcement.
Trump’s suggestion of an executive order to pay employees would mark an unusual use of executive authority to bypass a congressional funding stalemate. Legal experts have previously questioned whether presidents have the unilateral power to direct payment of federal employees without a congressional appropriation, raising the possibility of legal challenges if such an order is signed.
In New Hampshire, where federal workers and veterans have been closely watching the administration’s approach to federal employment, the shutdown has added to growing public concern. Protests against the Trump administration have drawn crowds at No Kings rallies across New Hampshire, reflecting broader unease about federal governance and executive authority.
What’s Next
The most immediate legislative opportunity to end the shutdown is the House’s return from recess on April 14, at which point leadership could bring the Senate-passed bill to the floor for a vote. If passed, the bill would go directly to President Trump for his signature.
Alternatively, Trump’s promised executive order could temporarily address employee pay, though its legal standing may face scrutiny. The White House has not yet released details about the scope, timing, or funding mechanism for such an action.
Members of Congress and federal employee unions are expected to increase pressure on House leadership to schedule an emergency session or expedite the bill’s passage upon return. For New Hampshire residents following related federal and state funding decisions affecting public programs, the shutdown serves as a reminder of how congressional gridlock can disrupt services at the local level.