Trump says he will 'soon' sign order to pay US Homeland Security Department employees

WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that he will "soon" sign an order aimed at guaranteeing pay for all employees of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) amid an ongoing partial shutdown, which led to weeks of long lines at airports.

Department personnel and their families “have suffered far too long," said Trump.

"Nevertheless, help is on the way for our Brave and Patriotic Public Servants who have continued to work hard, and do their part to protect and defend our Country," he said on his social media platform Truth Social.

Last week Trump signed a similar order for Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) workers – which is part of the department – whose thinning ranks have led to problems at airports.

His remarks came after the Senate on Thursday morning sent its funding deal for most of the DHS back to the House of Representatives, in a move that could signal the beginning of the end of a historic partial government shutdown.

During a short Thursday session, the House took no action on the funding agreement passed by the Senate.

Since February, the Homeland Security Department has been in a partial shutdown due to a dispute over the controversial Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, with most Democrats refusing to fund it without significant reforms. Trump had long opposed a deal to fund the entire department except for ICE.