President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal officials to ensure Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees receive pay during the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, stepping in as negotiations in Congress remain stalled.
The action follows weeks of strain across airports, where TSA officers have continued working without pay. Many officers have been forced to make personal financial decisions while still reporting for duty, adding strain to an already stretched workforce. More than 60,000 employees were affected, with rising absenteeism and resignations putting additional pressure on screening operations and increasing wait times.
Trump framed the situation as urgent, pointing to both operational breakdowns and security concerns tied to the funding lapse.
“As the Democrat-caused shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security continues well into its sixth week, America’s air travel system has reached its breaking point. This is an unprecedented emergency situation.”
Under the directive, the administration instructed the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Office of Management and Budget, to use available funds connected to TSA operations to cover employee compensation and benefits.
The White House said the move is meant to stabilize airport security and keep basic operations intact while lawmakers remain deadlocked over broader DHS funding. Officials cited growing delays at checkpoints and declining workforce reliability as immediate concerns.
Trump had previewed the move a day earlier, signaling he was prepared to act without Congress if a deal was not reached.
“Accordingly, I hereby direct the Secretary of Homeland Security… to use funds that have a reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations to provide TSA employees with the compensation and benefits that would have accrued to them if not for the… shutdown.”
The order provides short-term relief for TSA workers, but it does not resolve the broader funding dispute, leaving other DHS components operating without full appropriations as negotiations continue.
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