The Trump administration is looking for alternative ways to ensure federal law enforcement officers are paid as the government shutdown enters its third week.
With Democrats and Republicans deadlocked over the shutdown, government officials are exploring alternative ways to pay for some key programs, including the food program for women and children.
Meanwhile, US military personnel will receive salaries from funds previously allocated to the Pentagon by order of President Donald Trump.
Thousands of federal workers have already been furloughed, and Vice President J.D. Vance warned of further “painful” cuts if the shutdown continues.
On Tuesday, the Senate voted to fund the government for the eighth time, but failed to advance the Republican stopgap budget by a vote of 49-45.
It is unclear how much money would be needed to pay all federal law enforcement officers.
In response to a BBC inquiry, a spokesperson for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) confirmed that it is exploring alternative ways to ensure these payments continue.
Like members of the military, federal law enforcement officers are considered “essential” and are still expected to report for duty, even without pay.
These include officers from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), US Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Separately, Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday that he has directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to use “every available means” to pay troops on Oct. 15, when they will have to withhold their pay.
While Trump did not provide any details about where the money would come from, an OMB spokesman told the BBC that the funds would come from an amount previously allocated for defense research and development, which is available for two years.
About 750,000 federal workers – about 40% of the total workforce – were laid off or sent home without pay.
The administration has begun laying off at least seven agencies, which currently employ about 4,000 workers.
As both US political parties continue to blame each other for the shutdown, the Trump administration said it is looking for new ways to ensure some essential services can continue to operate.
On Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said her agency had found an “innovative” way to ensure Coast Guard members continued to be paid, although she did not provide any additional details.
Administration officials also said tariff revenues would be used to fund the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, or WIC.
More than 6.5 million people nationwide benefit from the program, which provides nutrition to pregnant, breastfeeding or postpartum women, as well as infants and children under five years of age.
The National WIC Association, however, said in a statement that the measure “is not a permanent solution” and that a prolonged closure could put millions of recipients at risk.
Democrats in Congress are reportedly planning to introduce legislation that would fully fund the program, and Virginia Democrat Robert Scott told the Guardian it should be “immune to the vagaries of the annual budget process.”
