President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will sign an order instructing the Department of Homeland Security to immediately pay Transportation Security Administration agents amid a growing airport crisis caused by the ongoing DHS funding standoff. In a statement, Trump blamed Democrats for what he called “chaos at the airports.”
“I am going to sign an Order instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation, and to quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports. It is not an easy thing to do, but I am going to do it!” Trump said.
What Is the Current Situation at Airports?
The Department of Homeland Security has been without new funding since Feb. 14, leaving TSA officers working without pay. Acting TSA Administrator Nguyễn Hải McNeill told a House hearing Wednesday that some major airports are seeing absenteeism rates of 40 to 50 percent among TSA workers. More than 480 TSA employees have resigned during the shutdown, McNeill said.
Wait times at U.S. airport security checkpoints have reached the longest levels in the 24-year history of the TSA, with some exceeding four hours, according to aviation consultant Scott Hamilton. Travelers in Houston, Atlanta and New Orleans have endured two-hour or longer lines, and some airports have been forced to close checkpoints.
Why Is DHS Funding on Hold?
The shutdown began Feb. 14 after Congress failed to advance a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security. Democratic lawmakers are seeking reforms to the agency following the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by ICE officers in Minneapolis in January. Republicans have rejected those demands, leading to a deadlock now stretching into its sixth week.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise accused Democrats of “siding with illegal immigrants over the American people” in an interview with Newsmax. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer blamed Republicans, writing on X that “Senate Republicans have now blocked TSA funding 9 times. They are solely responsible for the chaos travelers are experiencing.”
What Is the Union’s Response?
Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents TSA officers, told lawmakers not to leave Washington for Easter recess without passing a deal. “Don’t even think about going home for Easter recess while tens of thousands of American families are going without paychecks,” Kelley said.
Kelley criticized the administration’s move to send ICE agents to airports as a temporary fix. “This is what happens when the system is strained, and staffing is stretched too thin. But instead of solving the problem of paying TSOs, the administration sent ICE agents to airports as replacement workers. That’s like giving a person dying of pneumonia a teaspoon of cough syrup,” Kelley told the hearing.
What Is the Legal Outlook for Trump’s Order?
Any attempt to redirect money without a clear appropriation would almost certainly face immediate legal scrutiny. The Antideficiency Act bars agencies from spending money in advance of or beyond an appropriation, and the Constitution gives Congress control over federal spending. White House officials said no final plan has been put in motion, according to reports.
FAQs: TSA Pay Crisis
Q: How many TSA officers have left?
A: More than 480 TSA employees have resigned during the shutdown, Acting TSA Administrator McNeill told Congress.
Q: What is the absentee rate?
A: Some major airports are seeing absenteeism rates of 40-50 percent, McNeill said.
Q: How long are airport wait times?
A: Some airports are reporting wait times exceeding four hours, the longest in TSA’s 24-year history.
Q: Can Trump order TSA agents to be paid?
A: Legal experts say such an order would likely face immediate legal challenges because the Constitution gives Congress control over federal spending.
Disclaimer: This article is based on statements from President Trump, congressional testimony from Acting TSA Administrator Nguyễn Hải McNeill, AFGE President Everett Kelley, and news reports from Reuters, CNN and the Associated Press as of March 27, 2026.
