President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he will sign an order instructing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents immediately, amid a funding standoff that has left employees without pay for over a month. The order directs DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to address what Trump called an 'Emergency Situation' and to 'quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports.'
TSA agents have been working without pay since Congress failed to pass a funding bill for DHS last month, leading to staffing shortages and long queues at airports nationwide. The acting TSA head, Ha Nguyen McNeill, described the wait times as the 'highest in TSA history,' with passengers missing flights due to delays. Nearly 500 TSA officers have resigned since the shutdown began.
The funding impasse stems from Democratic demands for reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including accountability for violent incidents. Trump has linked the funding to the 'Save America Act,' which would introduce stricter voter registration rules, such as requiring proof of citizenship and photo ID at polling stations. Critics argue this would suppress voter turnout.
McNeill told Congress this week that TSA employees have missed an estimated $1 billion in paychecks, with many facing eviction, repossession, and loss of childcare. 'Some are sleeping in their cars, selling their blood and plasma, and taking on second jobs to make ends meet,' she said.
The Senate failed to pass DHS funding for the seventh time on Thursday evening. Senate Majority Leader John Thune described Trump's order as a 'short-term solution' that would take 'immediate pressure off,' while Republican senators praised the move as necessary to avert further disruption at airports.
