Pay Our Homeland Defenders Act

This bill would provide appropriations to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the remainder of fiscal year 2026, effectively ending the partial department shutdown that began on February 14, 2026. The legislation would fund a wide range of agencies and offices, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Additionally, the bill would authorize back pay for affected federal employees and ratify financial obligations incurred during the shutdown to maintain essential activities for protecting life and property.

This bill directly affects federal employees within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) who were impacted by the partial shutdown, specifically authorizing back pay for these workers. It also affects various agencies under the DHS umbrella, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Secret Service, and FEMA, by providing appropriations for their continued operations. Additionally, the legislation impacts entities involved in research, training, and services, such as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers.

• Appropriations for Department of Homeland Security operations. The bill provides funding for the remainder of FY2026 to end the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security that began on February 14, 2026.
• Funding for security, enforcement, and investigations. Appropriations are allocated for several agencies including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Transportation Security Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Secret Service.
• Support for protection, preparedness, and recovery agencies. The legislation provides funding for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency as well as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
• Funding for departmental management and oversight. The bill funds the Office of the Secretary and Executive Management, the Management Directorate, the Office of Inspector General, and intelligence and situational awareness functions.
• Authorization of back pay for federal employees. The bill authorizes back pay for federal employees who were affected by the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, in accordance with existing law.
• Ratification of obligations incurred during the shutdown. The bill approves obligations made during the shutdown to maintain essential activities for protecting life and property and to manage the orderly termination of government functions.

The bill provides appropriations for the remainder of fiscal year 2026 and includes provisions to end the partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown that began on February 14, 2026.

This bill provides appropriations for the remainder of FY2026 to replace the expired continuing resolution that previously funded the Department of Homeland Security. It also authorizes back pay for affected federal employees in accordance with current law and ratifies obligations incurred during the partial shutdown to maintain essential government functions.

The bill aims to end the partial Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown by providing appropriations for the remainder of fiscal year 2026 across various departmental agencies and directorates. It also seeks to authorize back pay for affected federal employees and ratify financial obligations incurred during the funding lapse to maintain essential operations.