Peters, Horsford Introduce Bill to Pay Essential Homeland Employees During Shutdown

Allows DHS to use unspent "One Big Beautiful Bill" funds

Washington, D.C. - Today, Representatives Scott Peters (CA-50) and Steven Horsford (NV-04) introduced the Homeland Security Continuity and Accountability Act, legislation to ensure critical national security functions continue operating and federal employees receive pay during a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown. This would ensure essential national security and emergency relief programs can continue-without additional funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP)- while Congress negotiates much-needed guardrails for immigration enforcement.

While most of DHS is hamstrung by the current funding lapse, the "One Big Beautiful Bill" passed by Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans last year gave $191 billion to DHS for immigration enforcement-primarily to ICE and CPB. That's more than the U.S. Marine Corps and many of the world's militaries.

Meanwhile, $150?billion of this funding remains unspent and could be redirected towards other DHS functions such as the U.S. Coast Guard, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

The Homeland Security Continuity and Accountability Act would allow the DHS Secretary to use unspent immigration enforcement funds under the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' to instead reopen other essential DHS components during shutdowns.

"The security of our nation shouldn't pause because of the militarization of our immigration system," said Rep. Peters. "If we are serious about protecting the American people, we must ensure that critical components of DHS can operate at full strength-especially as the United States enters direct conflict with Iran. At the same time, Congress cannot keep pouring billions more into agencies whose tactics have sown fear in communities. The Homeland Security Continuity and Accountability Act ensures that essential personnel and their missions are not used as collateral during a shutdown, while we fix structural issues in our immigration enforcement system."

"DHS isn't shut down because of TSA officers or FEMA workers; it's shut down because of the abusive actions of federal immigration officials," said Rep. Horsford. "Sadly, our frontline personnel are the ones paying the price. That's wrong, and it's preventable. If the money exists, move it. That's exactly what the Homeland Security Continuity and Accountability Act does and why I'm proud to stand with Rep. Peters to make sure the people who protect this country are never used as political collateral."

"AFGE thanks Rep. Scott Peters [and Rep. Horsford] for taking action to ensure DHS employees are paid during the current funding lapse. For the third time since October 1, hardworking AFGE members at TSA, FEMA, the Coast Guard, and across DHS are being forced to report to work without a paycheck. That is unacceptable and it is wrong. Federal employees should never be required to protect the public while wondering how they will pay their own bills. This legislation would help end this disgrace and guarantee the respect and pay these public servants have earned," said Dr. Everett B. Kelley, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (AFGE).

Read a one-pager on the bill HERE and bill text HERE.