The United States President Barack Obama says over 100,000 employees with the Department of Homeland Security won't be paid next week unless the Congress agrees new funding for the agency.
Photo: AFP
Republicans in Congress are holding up the Department's new budget in protest over the President's recent move to use his executive orders on migrants.
The United States President Barack Obama said a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security would see more than 100 thousand border patrol, port inspection and airport security workers temporarily left without paychecks.
Homeland Security spending authority is due to expire later today unless Congress approves new funding.
It is being held up by Republicans in protest over the President's recent move to use his executive orders on migrants.
Mr Obama appealed to them, saying not passing the new funding will have a direct impact on people's lives.
"These are folks that, if they don't have a paycheck, are not going to be able to spend that money in your states.
"It will have a direct impact on your economy and it will have a direct impact on America's national security because their hard work helps to keep us safe."
Mr Obama says Congress can't afford to play politics with national security.
