President Donald Trump said he will sign an order to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers. The latter have been working without pay during the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding lapse. The announcement came as TSA callout rates surged past 11% nationally, with some airports reporting lines exceeding four hours.
Donald Trump comments on TSA salary
Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he would direct Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to “immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation.” The White House did not answer questions about the funding source for the order or whether a dollar amount or duration is attached.
TSA officers missed their first full paychecks in mid-March. Callout rates have exceeded 11% nationally, with some airports reporting rates above 40%. Trump sent ICE agents to airports earlier this week to assist. ICE agents continue receiving paychecks under funding from legislation Trump signed last year.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., called the move a short-term solution after speaking with reporters on Capitol Hill. “Well, obviously it takes the immediate pressure off, but you know, it’s a short-term solution,” Thune said. “Give the president credit for responding to a crisis in a way that will make sure that after these guys drug this out for 41 days now, TSA agents are finally going to get paid.”
The Senate failed on the same day to advance a House-passed bill that would fund DHS for a full year. The 53-47 vote fell short of the 60 needed. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., was the only Democrat to support it. Democrats oppose the House bill over demands for changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement following immigration officer deployments in Minneapolis and the killings of two U.S. citizens by federal officers there this year.
Thune told reporters it remains unclear whether lawmakers will stay in Washington to work on a DHS deal. The Senate is scheduled to leave Friday for a two-week recess (via NBC News).
Originally reported by Devanshi Basu on Mandatory.
