Affected DHS employees now have until May 15 to file federal tax returns and pay any taxes owed without incurring penalties or interest, according to a Treasury news release.
The extension is automatic and applies to personnel experiencing financial or administrative challenges tied to the shutdown.
“The continued shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security has created unnecessary disruptions, placing an unfair burden on DHS personnel and their families,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
“As they continue to show up under extraordinary circumstances without receiving a paycheck, Treasury and the IRS will provide affected DHS employees with a 30-day automatic extension for this tax filing season with penalty and interest relief.”
2 Months Without Pay
The tax relief comes as the shutdown, now nearing seven weeks, has left workers across agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Coast Guar—working two months without pay.
While not a full government shutdown, it is the longest funding lapse and shutdown in U.S. history.
“Thousands of DHS employees who are performing their critical public safety responsibilities are struggling to make ends meet and provide for their families,” the memorandum states. “This callous treatment of DHS employees must end in order to ensure that America is not susceptible to security threats and maintains readiness to respond to emergencies.”
The memo instructs DHS leadership and the Office of Management and Budget to use funds with a “reasonable and logical nexus” to DHS functions to pay workers during the shutdown.
The shutdown has continued as Congress remains at an impasse over DHS funding, with disagreements focused on immigration enforcement policies.
