Trump Issues Executive Order to Pay TSA Workers Amid Ongoing DHS Shutdown

With the congressional debate over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding dragging into its second month, President Donald Trump issued an executive action Friday morning to ensure Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees are compensated immediately.

The order directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to utilize existing funds with a "logical nexus" to TSA operations to cover accrued pay and benefits. Sources indicate the administration plans to tap into the $10 billion "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act—a domestic policy package passed in 2025—which grants the DHS Secretary broad authority to fund activities that safeguard U.S. borders.

The move comes as a response to an increasingly dire situation at national travel hubs. Since the DHS funding lapse on February 14, approximately 61,000 TSA workers have gone without pay, leading to over 500 resignations and thousands of "call-outs." Travelers in major hubs like Atlanta and Houston have faced security lines stretching outside terminals, prompting the President to briefly deploy ICE agents to assist at 14 major airports earlier this week.

While TSA staffers could see funds in their accounts as early as Monday, union leaders remain cautious, noting that back-pay processing can often take weeks. Meanwhile, the political stalemate continues; though the Senate passed a partial funding bill overnight, House Speaker Mike Johnson dismissed the measure, insisting on a short-term bill that fully funds the department for eight weeks.