As the US government shutdown enters its third week, federal law enforcement officers, deemed ‘essential,’ are required to continue working despite not receiving their salaries. The Trump administration is actively seeking alternative funding mechanisms to ensure these officers are compensated, even as Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked over the budget impasse. President Donald Trump has already authorized the use of previously allocated Pentagon funds to pay military personnel, but the financial resources needed to cover law enforcement officers remain unclear. A spokesperson for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) confirmed that alternative payment solutions are being explored. Affected agencies include the FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), US Border Patrol, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Meanwhile, Vice-President JD Vance has warned of further ‘painful’ cuts if the shutdown persists. Approximately 750,000 federal employees, or 40% of the workforce, have been furloughed or sent home without pay, with layoffs already affecting at least seven agencies. In a separate development, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced an ‘innovative’ method to ensure Coast Guard members are paid, though details were not disclosed. Additionally, tariff revenue is being redirected to fund the Special Supplementation Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which supports over 6.5 million beneficiaries. However, the National WIC Association cautioned that this is not a permanent solution, and prolonged shutdown could jeopardize millions of recipients. Congressional Democrats are reportedly drafting legislation to safeguard WIC funding, emphasizing its importance beyond the annual budget process. The Senate is set to vote again on government funding, though passage remains unlikely.
Trump administration looks for ways to pay federal officers during shutdown
