{"id":2573699,"date":"2026-02-25T18:31:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T23:31:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thune-floats-white-house-lifeline-for-unpaid-dhs-workers\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T18:32:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T23:32:59","slug":"thune-floats-white-house-lifeline-for-unpaid-dhs-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thune-floats-white-house-lifeline-for-unpaid-dhs-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"Thune floats White House lifeline for unpaid DHS workers"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthune-floats-white-house-lifeline-for-unpaid-dhs-workers%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2573699&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Senate majority Leader john Thune argues that a prolonged Department of Homeland Security shutdown could force the White House to step in and pay workers who are going without pay, including Transportation Security Administration staff, to prevent disruptions at critical agencies. He emphasized the need to keep government employees employed and meeting their obligations. The piece outlines a partisan standoff over DHS funding, with Democrats wanting to fund the department but restrict funding for ICE and Republicans weighing various approaches, while the White House has not commented. It notes that President Trump mentioned the shutdown in his State of the Union address, blaming Democrats, as negotiations continued without a clear resolution, and highlights the broader security and disaster-response implications, such as winter storms and FEMA\u2019s role.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Thune floats White House lifeline for unpaid DHS workers as shutdown drags on<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2510356\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Senate Majority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-thune\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-thune\/\">John Thune<\/a> (R-SD) says a prolonged shutdown of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-homeland-security\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"3083\">Department of Homeland Security<\/a> may require the White House to step in and pay workers who are forgoing paychecks at critical agencies such as the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tsa\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tsa\/\">Transportation Security Administration<\/a>. &nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Anything you can do to keep people employed,&rdquo; Thune told reporters Wednesday. &ldquo;If they can figure out a way to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/taliban-uses-foreign-aid-intended-for-starving-afghans-to-enslave-them\/\" title=\"Taliban Uses Foreign Aid Intended for Starving Afghans to Enslave Them\">pay government employees<\/a>, absolutely. These are people who have jobs and have commitments and have families.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4471909\/takeaways-hearing-surgeon-general-nominee-casey-means\/\">Takeaways from the intense hearing with Trump surgeon general nominee Casey Means<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4471758\/trump-state-of-the-union-wish-list-odds-congress\/\">Trump State of the Union wish list faces long odds in Congress<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4471654\/trump-surgeon-general-pick-dodges-questions-abortion-pill-during-hearing\/\">Trump&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-surgeon-general-pick-dodges-questions-on-abortion-pill\/\" title=\"Trump&#039;s surgeon general pick dodges questions on abortion pill\">surgeon general pick dodges questions<\/a> on abortion pill during hearing<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4457612\/dhs-shutdown-congress-skips-town-without-deal-ice\/\">DHS ENTERS SHUTDOWN AFTER CONGRESS SKIPS TOWN WITHOUT DEAL ON ICE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Thune&rsquo;s position underscored the lack of progress with reaching a deal on Senate Democrats&rsquo; demands to restrict President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump&rsquo;s<\/a> deportation agenda in exchange for funding DHS, which houses <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ICE\" type=\"link\" id=\"washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ICE\">Immigration and Customs Enforcement<\/a> and has been shuttered since Feb. 14. The approach would take away pressure on Democrats while allowing Republicans to sidestep the scrutiny of passing a spending bill that omits ICE.<\/p>\n<p>Trump&rsquo;s massive tax and spending package that passed last year funds ICE into 2029, including during the shutdown, lowering pressure to fund the agency immediately.<\/p>\n<p>During negotiations prior to the partial shutdown, Democrats pushed to fund everything under DHS except ICE to limit the shutdown&rsquo;s impact, and wanted Congress to appropriate the funds rather than the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >administration shuffling money<\/a> around as it did for defense spending during last year&rsquo;s shutdown.<\/p>\n<p>But Thune suggested the White House could step in for unpaid workers under DHS, including the Coast Guard and Secret Service.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Part of it&rsquo;s going to depend on how much authority they have to do that, what access to resources to do that,&rdquo; Thune added to the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>. &ldquo;But anything you can do to keep people working.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) speaks to members of the media at the Capitol, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Allison Robbert)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The White House did not provide comment.<\/p>\n<p>Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4461982\/white-house-trump-democrats-homeland-security-shutdown-talks-karoline-leavitt\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4461982\/white-house-trump-democrats-homeland-security-shutdown-talks-karoline-leavitt\/\">ball is in Republicans&rsquo; court<\/a> to fund DHS and that they have yet to receive a counterproposal after making their latest offer to the White House more than a week ago.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s up to the Republicans. Very simply, all they have to do is agree with our simple ideas that every <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ferguson-police-officer-critically-injured-by-violent-protesters-on-10th-anniversary-of-michael-browns-death\/\" title=\"Ferguson Police Officer Critically Injured by Violent &#039;Protesters&#039; on 10th Anniversary of Michael Brown&#039;s Death\">police department &#038;mdash<\/a>; just about &mdash; in America follows, and we&rsquo;ll get it all done,&rdquo; Schumer said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s plain and simple.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/infrastructure\/4468537\/fema-dhs-shutdown-winter-storms\/\">WINTER STORMS COLLIDE WITH SHUTDOWN FIGHT, PUTTING PRESSURE ON FEMA<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Trump made a brief mention of the DHS shutdown in his <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/state-of-the-union\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"658\">State of the Union<\/a> address Tuesday night, placing blame on Democrats and offering little indication that the impasse will be resolved soon.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;As we speak, Democrats in this chamber have cut off all funding for the Department of Homeland Security,&rdquo; Trump said. &ldquo;Tonight, I&rsquo;m demanding the full and immediate restoration of all funding for the border security, homeland security of the United States, and also for helping people clean up their snow.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thune pushes White House aid for unpaid DHS staff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3204,"featured_media":2573700,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26043708721628_3fc1ff.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[7492,23610,6062],"class_list":["post-2573699","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-dhs","tag-thune","tag-whitehouse"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26043708721628_3fc1ff.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573699","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3204"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2573699"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573699\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2573703,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573699\/revisions\/2573703"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2573700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2573699"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2573699"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2573699"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}