The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has ordered all furloughed employees to return to work despite the ongoing partial government shutdown, according to an internal notice issued on Friday.
The directive instructs affected staff to resume duties on their next scheduled workday, with most expected to return by Monday. The move comes as the shutdown, driven by a funding impasse in Congress, approaches its second month.
The recall follows an emergency order signed earlier this month by Donald Trump, which authorizes compensation for DHS employees equivalent to wages and benefits lost during the shutdown period. A senior administration official confirmed that all DHS personnel have been instructed to return and will receive pay under the directive.
DHS employs roughly 270,000 people, the majority of whom are classified as “essential workers,” meaning they are required to continue working even during funding lapses. However, thousands had been furloughed due to the partial shutdown.
Lawmakers in the U.S. Congress have yet to reach an agreement on a fiscal 2026 funding bill for DHS, prolonging the standoff.
The situation has intensified political tensions, particularly over the administration’s immigration policies. Democrats have strongly criticized the enforcement measures carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a DHS agency, accusing the administration of overreach.
Rights groups have also condemned the crackdown, arguing that it undermines due process and free speech while creating an unsafe environment, especially for minority communities. The administration, however, has defended its actions as necessary to strengthen national security and curb illegal immigration.
Controversy has further mounted following incidents earlier this year in Minnesota, where federal agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens, drawing scrutiny toward ICE operations.
DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said the agency would utilize available funding to bring the entire workforce back on duty. A DHS spokesperson told Federal News Network that employee paychecks are now being processed, while also placing blame for the shutdown on Democratic lawmakers.
The recall underscores the administration’s effort to maintain operational continuity at DHS as the political deadlock in Washington continues unresolved.