Trump to circumvent Congress with order to pay all DHS workers - axios.com

axios.com
April 2, 2026
2 min read

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The Bottom Line

Trump plans to bypass Congress with an executive order to increase pay for all Department of Homeland Security workers.

AI Summary

President Trump plans to use an executive order to increase pay for all Department of Homeland Security workers, bypassing the normal congressional appropriations process. The move circumvents the legislative branch's traditional authority over federal spending and salary decisions. The order represents Trump's effort to boost DHS morale and retention at the agency responsible for immigration enforcement and border security, a priority for his administration. This executive approach allows the White House to act without securing congressional approval, though legal challenges could follow regarding the president's authority to unilaterally alter federal compensation outside the budget process.

What's Being Done

Legal challenges to the president's authority to unilaterally alter federal compensation outside the budget process are possible.

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