Shelby Review

John James, a House Representative from Michigan, said that the ongoing government shutdown is unfairly impacting federal law enforcement. He called on Senate Democrats to take action and urged for the protection of pay for officers, noting that former President Trump ensured troops were paid during similar situations. James made these remarks on the social media platform X.

"The Schumer Shutdown is forcing our federal law enforcement officers to work without pay," said John Edward James, U.S. Representative from Michigan. "House Republicans did our job, now it's time for Senate Democrats to do their jobs. Thankfully, President Donald J. Trump put people over politics, and made sure our troops got their pay. Now, we must similarly ensure that our federal law enforcement who keep our communities and country safe receive their paychecks."

The fiscal year 2026 federal funding lapse began on October 1, 2025, after Congress failed to pass either a continuing resolution or full appropriations. This failure resulted in halted pay for thousands of workers. According to Federal News Network, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced on October 17 that it would continue paying more than 70,000 personnel from Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Secret Service using special reconciliation funds. This decision highlighted the uneven treatment of law enforcement during shutdowns.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), approximately 102,291 DOJ employees—about 89 percent of its workforce—were deemed "excepted" during the 2025 shutdown and required to work without pay. This group includes most federal law enforcement officers from agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Marshals Service, and Bureau of Prisons who continue critical operations despite delayed compensation.

The Bipartisan Policy Center reported that around 730,000 federal employees worked without pay while another 670,000 were furloughed during the 2025 shutdown. Law enforcement and military personnel were among those most affected. Historically, troops have been protected by the Pay Our Military Act of 2013, while civilian employees are guaranteed back pay under the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019 once funding resumes.

Representative John James serves Michigan’s 10th Congressional District and is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee with a focus on manufacturing, energy, and national security. A graduate of West Point and a former Army aviation officer, he previously led his family’s logistics company in Detroit before entering politics.

According to Michigan State Police reports, the state coordinates closely with federal law enforcement through programs like the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant program which funds policing initiatives as well as courts and reentry services. Michigan also collaborates with federal agencies including the FBI Detroit Field Office and High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) task forces to combat organized crime and drug trafficking statewide.