In a breaking post to social media, Fox News reporter Bill Melugin explained the nuances of a partial DHS shutdown in late March 2026. Frontline ICE, Border Patrol, and CBP law enforcement agents continue to receive pay under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB), a major Trump-signed funding package from July 2025 that provides immigration enforcement funding through 2029.
However, thousands of civilian support staff are unpaid, some since February 13, 2026. A Senate bill funds TSA and other DHS components but leaves ICE support staff without appropriations, forcing them to hope for future reconciliation funding. Affected employees expressed frustration while continuing to work
In any case, Bill Melugin authored a detailed post on this current situation. “Some color on who is & isn’t being paid in ICE & CBP via the One Big Beautiful Bill. Most of ICE & CBP are funded through 2029 via the OBBB and operations won’t be impacted if they aren’t funded through appropriations, for now,” the reporter said.
Building on this point, he added, “All frontline law enforcement is being paid. The ICE, Border Patrol, and CBP agents we see in the field are all getting paid via OBBB. HOWEVER… their professional and civilian support staff are NOT being paid.”
“These are people who work the computers, the public affairs offices, and other support staff who aren’t on the front line making immigration arrests, but are supporting the agents who are,” he added, “These civilian support staffers haven’t been paid for almost half of the last six months when you factor in the prior shutdown last fall.”
The journalist explained, “They feel left behind – and feel they have no light at the end of the tunnel with this Senate bill leaving CBP & ICE unfunded through appropriations. They would have to hope GOP could take care of them in a future reconciliation bill, or that more funds could be moved around to pay them.”
Melugin quoted a CBP support employee to support his arguments. “The senate bill paid TSA but thousands of CBP & ICE professional staff will not be paid. The last paid work day for me was February 13. Now, the Senate is on paid vacation until April 13, which is a guarantee for 2 months of no pay. Very likely, we won’t be paid until May if Johnson lets the bill pass,” the government employee stated.
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Another ICE civilian employee added, “I have a huge favor. When you guys report on the fact that ICE is funded through OB3 funds, can you please make it known that support staff (i.e. mission support, OPA, etc.) is NOT getting paid?”
“We civilians are not getting paid. I’m working with my mom in the hospital and not getting paid. This is all so frustrating…sorry bill for venting!” HSI civilian employee said, to round out the intriguing post to social media.
Reacting to the post, one woman responded, “I have said repeatedly here that Senate and House staff should not be paid during these ridiculous shutdowns. That would make those elected get off their butts and do something. That is, providing they know how to without staff.”
Watch Mike Johnson skewer the Senate for this massive betrayal of ICE:
🚨 HOLY SMOKES!! Speaker Johnson just told the Senate to SCREW OFF, he’s NOT passing their DHS funding deal that leaves out ICE
“This GAMBIT that was done last night is a JOKE! It CAN’T be that every Senate Republican read the language of this bill!” 🔥🔥🔥
Johnson then READS… pic.twitter.com/uCWnkmM6bl
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 27, 2026