With government shutdowns, however brief, becoming more of a regular danger, and exacerbated by the Republican Speaker crisis in the House, several Republican senators introduced the Keep Our Border Agents Paid Act to shield border and customs officers from a shutdown.
U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson (WI), Rick Scott (FL), Jim Risch (ID), Tim Scott (SC), Roger Wicker (MS) and Dan Sullivan (AK) all backed the motion. Specifically, that bill would guarantee U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents and contractors could continue to be paid during a government shutdown.
“The record-breaking number of migrants pouring across our southern border does not stop during a government shutdown, and our Border Patrol officers go to work every day during a shutdown—without a paycheck,” Johnson said. “This bill ensures these agents do not miss a paycheck while they work tirelessly to stem the tide of Biden’s disastrous border policies.”
If faced with any lapses in appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), money would be appropriated from the Treasury if not otherwise appropriated.