In a recent memo, President Donald Trump ordered that all remaining employees of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) be compensated during the ongoing partial government shutdown, which has reached a record length. This directive, issued on Friday, instructs the Secretary of Homeland Security to utilize available funds to ensure employees receive their compensation and benefits as if the shutdown had not occurred. The shutdown has caused significant disruptions, including long security lines at airports, which have frustrated travelers and increased political pressure on both parties ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. Lawmakers remain deadlocked, with Democrats pushing for changes to immigration enforcement policies, while Republicans and the White House resist these demands. Trump's actions have raised concerns regarding his ability to redirect spending without Congressional approval, as the Senate previously agreed to fund most of the DHS except for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol. Republican leaders have now set a deadline of June 1 to pass a budget reconciliation bill aimed at increasing funding for ICE and Border Patrol without Democratic support.