“Employees who are unable to report for duty on their next scheduled workday must request leave and receive approval from their supervisors,” today’s message states. “Employees that do not follow this process may be subject to administrative or disciplinary action.”

The recall comes after President Donald Trump earlier this month directed DHS to use funds from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to pay civilian employees, including furloughed staff, who had not received paychecks through the shutdown.

In a message to employees earlier this week, DHS said employees covered under Trump’s order would receive backpay through April 4. But DHS added that “any additional compensation owed to you will be paid once D.H.S. funding is restored” by Congress, sparking concerns that the same DHS employees will again have to go without pay.

“DHS is using available funds to ensure employees are paid,” today’s message states. “Should the department exhaust currently available funds before an FY 2026 appropriation is enacted, you will receive a new notification of your work status at that time.”