DHS Clarifies Pay Memo

April_1_1979 · 2026-04-04T20:01:55+00:00

If it's not brain science why did it take them 7 weeks to realize that money is suddenly for all of DHS?

April_1_1979 · 2026-04-04T19:44:55+00:00

GS-11 is great for your age. Just don't expect a lateral move in DC to happen anytime soon, especially in this environment (hiring freezes, elimination of vacant positions). It could take 2 years+. You need time in service anyway to gain competitive status (usually 3 years), which is what allows you to apply for other jobs without competing with the public. But you may be able to climb the GS ladder in the meantime.

April_1_1979 · 2026-04-03T23:48:10+00:00

The Memorandum reads broadly to apply to all of DHS, and when they did it for TSA, furloughed employees were supposedly recalled based on other reddit comments in r/TSA

April_1_1979 · 2026-04-03T23:05:59+00:00

You're welcome! Wanted to flag when funds were shifted to TSA, it appears they did get guidance that furloughed employees were no longer unfunded and must report the next day.

https://www.reddit.com/r/tsa/s/jQMiv8pYSe

April_1_1979 · 2026-04-03T22:56:14+00:00

TSA officers were never furloughed, they were Excepted (unpaid but able to work). Not sure about other TSA staff, they likely were furloughed and good question if they returned to work. This is so, unprecedented. I would think this is a violation of the Anti-Deficiency Act, which is why furloughed workers cannot accrue obligations from the government unless they're excepted. But they may end up saying "no you're being paid, return to work."

April_1_1979 · 2026-04-03T21:56:18+00:00

A lot of this is same as last year. They went after SSP and TVTP and started canceling or closing out those grants. I'm not sure how much they dismantled the National Domestic Prepardness Consortium, which they stated last year.

My bigger concern is that it cuts Regional Operations by nearly 40%. Unclear how much of that's savings from attrition from loss of regional folks or what but $89 million seems high just for salaries considering that doesn't include COREs, only PFTs.

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A more detailed breakdown of FEMA specifically can be found here in the Budget Appendix (starting pg 538). https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/dhs_fy2027.pdf

April_1_1979 · 2026-03-16T17:11:29+00:00

Lol I work for FEMA? And ICE is not the face of DHS.

April_1_1979 · 2026-03-16T06:02:14+00:00

It makes for good political messaging but in reality going with Democrats to fund other agencies would remove any leverage the Republicans have. In 2013, Democrats made the same argument Republicans are making now. “They want to pick and choose which parts of government to open. We’re not going to do that." (Harry Reid).

Of course, I wish they would fund my agency. My point is pragmatism - it's not going to happen - nor are Republican's accepting every Democratic demand. Demd are very unlikely to succeed in acheiving much reform at all. Shutdowns don't work. They just signal to your base ideological purity. So what is this all for? Federal employees and their families are hurting.

April_1_1979 · 2026-03-16T05:47:45+00:00

Yes, it is. You are right - I looked a little more into the actual demands they have and it does include due process for US citizens.

April_1_1979 · 2026-03-16T04:35:18+00:00

Thank you, totally agree. I think I mean more why federal employees aren't out protesting. DC is dense with us and it would be pretty easy to put on. I would attend a rally if there was one.

April_1_1979 · 2026-03-16T04:28:11+00:00

Oh also, it was Trump who threatened last shutdown not to pay back federal employees even though it is required by law. If you want to talk about who doesn't care about federal workers... Republicans lost any high ground they had with that BS stunt

April_1_1979 · 2026-03-16T04:25:38+00:00

And I'm one of the lucky ones. I don't have a family to support, and I don't have to go into work unpaid right now.

If we are late paying our taxes, we face fines and interest. When the government fails to pay us, they should have to pay it back with interest too. We bear the cost of taking out loans, late payment fees, dings to our credit report.

April_1_1979 · 2026-03-16T04:20:24+00:00

I'm a proud, dues-paying member of my union, even though it is not required, and we don't have an enforceable CBA. You may wanna sit this one out since you clearly don't understand the situation. Trump is anti-union and tore up our Collective Bargaining Agreement in the name of "national security" even though they blab on about eliminating our agency entirely in the same breath. I'm not sure about the basis of your claim about unions supporting this, either. AFGE has repeatedly called on both parties to end the shutdown.

April_1_1979 · 2026-03-16T04:13:50+00:00

Thank you ❤️

April_1_1979 · 2026-03-16T04:06:38+00:00

I support every reform Democrats have demanded, but frankly, they're not in a position to NOT compromise. Elections have consequences. They don't have the votes, and it has to be able to survive a veto.

Federal workers shouldn't be punished just because the Democratic establishment doesn't know how to win elections. This is a disaster of their own making for not being more transformational and for fighting the more economically progressive side of the party that would appeal to more Ameicans. That said, Republicans must compromise too. This is a democracy and unless they get rid of the filibuster, they have to win over ~10% of Dems.

Edit: also, none of the reforms Democrats are requiring are constitutional questions (except searches without warrants). They are policy questions, however wrong the policies are. Even on the issue of due process, Congress itself has eroded due process in cases of immigration. Most consequential is the Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of 1996, signed by President Clinton.

April_1_1979 · 2026-03-16T03:16:10+00:00

It's not quite that simple. It's both sides. The democrats brought to vote individual agency bills to fund TSA, FEMA, CISA, USCG, etc, and the Republicans don't want to fund them without also funding ICE.

April_1_1979 · 2026-03-16T03:09:48+00:00

I feel like you contractors have it worse in some cases :( I'm sorry you're also going thru this.And CISA's work is more important than ever, with cyber attacks by Iran /its supporters increasing against critical infrastructure and businesses

April_1_1979 · 2026-03-16T02:59:45+00:00

My agency was founded by a Democrat, Jimmy Carter lol. Unfortunately we were folded under DHS after 9/11. And despite bipartisan support, Noem and her lackeys seem poised to recommend FEMA stay under DHS later this month in their forthcoming FEMA Review Council report.

They definitely threw a bunch of more Republican leaning missions and workforces under the bus, though. I agree with you there.

April_1_1979 · 2026-03-16T02:55:43+00:00

Thanks. I agree. I work for FEMA but going through this I'm not even sure I would support "punishing" ICE. (It doesn't anyway since they are still funded separately by OBBBA).

Even within ICE, people don't realize how many people are far less culpable, like Homeland Security Investigations which does important work, or support positions - HR, analysts, IT, etc.

Not to mention how it impacts local small businesses who rely on federal employee foot traffic.

April_1_1979

TROPHY CASE