Pay Our Border Patrol and Customs Agents Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 1916

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Immigration

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-03-06: Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.

Last Updated

2025-05-12T17:09:51Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

This bill, titled the "Pay Our Border Patrol and Customs Agents Act of 2025," aims to provide funding for the salaries and expenses of specific U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) employees who must continue working during a potential government shutdown in fiscal year 2025. A government shutdown occurs when Congress fails to pass funding bills, leading to a temporary lapse in federal spending for non-essential operations. The goal is to ensure these essential border security workers are paid without interruption.

Key Provisions

• Appropriation of Funds: The bill authorizes the use of any available money in the U.S. Treasury (not already allocated for other purposes) to cover necessary costs during fiscal year 2025.
• Covered Employees: Funding applies specifically to:
• Agents of the U.S. Border Patrol.
• Officers in the CBP's Office of Field Operations (responsible for inspections at ports of entry).
• Trigger for Funding: Payments would activate during any period of lapsed discretionary appropriations (non-mandatory spending) starting on or after the bill's enactment date, but only for employees officially excepted from furlough (layoff) due to their essential roles.
• Scope: Limited to salaries and related expenses for these workers during the shutdown period.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Under current law, during a government shutdown, essential federal employees (those required to work) are generally not furloughed but may face delayed paychecks until funding is restored. This bill introduces a proactive emergency appropriation to guarantee immediate payment from Treasury funds, bypassing the usual delay.
• It does not alter furlough rules or expand who is considered essential; it only ensures pay for already-designated essential CBP personnel in these roles.
• This is a targeted fix for fiscal year 2025, not a permanent change to shutdown protocols.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: Strengthens CBP's operational continuity at borders and ports by reducing financial stress on frontline staff, potentially minimizing disruptions to immigration enforcement, trade inspections, and security.
• On Citizens: Enhances public safety and economic flow by maintaining border operations, which could prevent delays in travel, commerce, or security threats during a shutdown.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though uninterrupted border staffing could support smoother U.S. interactions with neighboring countries on trade and migration issues.
• Broader fiscal effects include drawing on general Treasury funds, which could slightly strain unallocated reserves if a prolonged shutdown occurs.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• CBP Employees: Primarily Border Patrol Agents and Field Operations Officers, who benefit from guaranteed pay and reduced personal financial hardship.
• CBP Agency: Gains operational stability, allowing focus on duties without recruitment or morale issues tied to shutdowns.
• U.S. Taxpayers and Congress: Bear the indirect cost through Treasury use; lawmakers (especially those prioritizing border security) may view it as a supportive measure.
• Border Communities and Businesses: Indirectly affected through sustained inspections and enforcement, avoiding potential backups at ports.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: As an appropriations bill, it aligns with Congress's constitutional power (Article I, Section 9) to control federal spending. It uses standard "such sums as necessary" language for flexibility but is narrowly tailored to avoid broader fiscal overreach.
• Constitutional: No major challenges anticipated; it respects separation of powers by funding executive branch operations without infringing on other branches.
• Political: Highlights bipartisan or targeted support for border security amid ongoing debates on immigration and shutdown risks. Introduced by a group of House members, it could influence negotiations on larger funding packages, signaling priority for essential workers in high-profile agencies like CBP. No controversial elements like new authorities are included, keeping it focused and low-risk for legal disputes.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15]

Cosponsors (20)

Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6], Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2], Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Luttrell, Morgan [R-TX-8], Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3], Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31], Rep. Kean, Thomas H. [R-NJ-7], Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5], Rep. Franklin, Scott [R-FL-18], Rep. Newhouse, Dan [R-WA-4], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Rep. Bresnahan, Robert [R-PA-8], Rep. Gonzales, Tony [R-TX-23], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26], Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36], Rep. Maloy, Celeste [R-UT-2], Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3], Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]

Recent Actions

• 2025-03-06: Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations.
• 2025-03-06: Introduced in House
• 2025-03-06: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Pay Our Border Patrol and Customs Agents Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-06 — PDF (2 pages)