Current Status of the U.S. Government Shutdown As of October 22, 2025, the U.S. federal government is in its 22nd day of a shutdown, triggered by a failure to pass appropriations for fiscal year 2026. This marks the second-longest shutdown in U.S. history, tied with the 1995-1996 event and surpassed only by the 35-day shutdown during Donald Trump's first term. The impasse stems from partisan disputes over healthcare subsidies and federal spending, with no resolution in sight. Over 750,000 federal workers are furloughed or working without pay, and services like national parks, food aid programs, and some IRS operations are disrupted. Are ICE Agents Getting Paid? Yes, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents—specifically deportation officers and other frontline law enforcement personnel—are receiving pay during the shutdown, unlike most federal workers. This applies to over 70,000 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) law enforcement officers, including those from ICE, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Secret Service, and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Key Details on ICE Pay: Payment Mechanism: DHS Secretary Kristi Noem announced that these agents will receive a "super check" today (October 22, 2025), covering lost wages from the shutdown's early days, overtime, and the next pay period. This uses funds from the "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OB3), a reconciliation package that allocated $75 billion to ICE for mass deportations and enforcement activities through 2029. Rationale: ICE agents are classified as "essential" personnel required to continue operations, including arrests and removals of criminal non-citizens (e.g., pedophiles, drug traffickers). The administration prioritized their pay to support Trump's immigration crackdown, even as Congress has not approved new funding. Scope: This covers sworn officers directly involved in enforcement; administrative or support staff may still face delays or backpay only after the shutdown ends. Backpay Guarantee: Under the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, all essential federal workers (including ICE agents) are entitled to retroactive pay once funding is restored, but ICE's "super check" provides immediate relief. Broader Context for Federal Workers: For comparison, here's how pay affects other groups during this shutdown: | Group | Pay Status During Shutdown | Notes | |------------------------|---------------------------------------------|-------| | ICE Agents (Deportation Officers) | Paid immediately via "super check" | ~19,000 affected; prioritized for enforcement surge. | | CBP Border Patrol Agents | Paid immediately via "super check" | ~63,000; essential for border security. | | Military Personnel | Paid (using available funds) | Directed by President Trump; no missed paychecks. | | FBI Special Agents | Paid | ~13,000; other DOJ staff unpaid. | | Other Essential Federal Workers (e.g., TSA Screeners, IRS Auditors) | Working without pay; backpay guaranteed | Must report to duty but face financial hardship. | | Furloughed Non-Essential Workers | Unpaid leave; backpay guaranteed | ~750,000 total affected; includes many DHS admins. | | Government Contractors | Often unpaid (no backpay guarantee) | Padded contracts anticipate shutdown risks. | This selective payment has drawn criticism for exacerbating inequalities, with experts like Linda Bilmes noting it highlights "budget dysfunction" while essential workers in other agencies struggle. Early DHS statements suggested no pay, but the administration reversed course to reclassify funding sources. ICE operations, including raids in cities like Chicago, continue unabated. If the shutdown persists, risks include disruptions to SNAP benefits (affecting 42 million people by November) and further economic strain. Congress could end it with a stopgap funding bill, but talks remain stalled.

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