Thousands of TSA Officers Miss First Full Paycheck Amid Shutdown

Political stalemate over Homeland Security funding forces essential staff to work without pay, straining household finances and threatening airport operations.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 12:26pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers nationwide missed their first full paycheck Friday as a monthlong Department of Homeland Security shutdown persisted. The missed payday comes as a result of a political stalemate over Homeland Security funding that has forced essential TSA staff to work without pay, placing financial strain on workers and risking longer waits for travelers as callouts rise and officers seek other jobs.

Why it matters

TSA employees are designated essential and required to report to work even in the event of a partial or full government shutdown. The lapse in Homeland Security funding means their pay is withheld until Congress and the White House enact a spending bill or a stopgap measure, placing financial strain on workers and risking longer waits for travelers as callouts rise and officers seek other jobs. Airports have already warned of longer lines and potential flight delays as unscheduled absences increased and more than 300 TSA officers left their jobs since the shutdown began.

The details

TSA officers received roughly 30 percent of their pay in a prior paycheck during the shutdown but missed their first full paycheck Friday while continuing to report for duty. Negotiations in Congress stalled as Democrats pressed for reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection before backing full Homeland Security funding, while Republicans rejected those demands and sought broader DHS funding without those conditions.

  • On Friday, March 13, 2026, TSA officers nationwide missed their first full paycheck.
  • The Department of Homeland Security shutdown has persisted for over a month.

The players

Erik Hansen

Head of government relations at the U.S. Travel Association.

Geoff Freeman

President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.

Anthony Riley

A patriotic TSA agent who continues to show up to work to keep travelers safe.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's the same story: It's TSOs who are sleeping in cars, sleeping at the airport, saving on gas, losing out with childcare. The call-out rates are now increasing, and we're seeing extraordinarily long lines at airports. Travelers are paying the cost, as well.”

— Erik Hansen, Head of government relations at the U.S. Travel Association

“TSA officers screen nearly a billion passengers a year. With an average salary of around $35,000, these are workers who simply cannot afford to miss a paycheck. Right now, Congress is allowing them to do that work without one. Every time Washington fails to fund the government, these essential workers pay the price. So do travelers. So does the economy. That is why America's travel industry has come together, because this workforce is too important, and the stakes are too high, for this to keep happening.”

— Geoff Freeman, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association

“Our TSA officers and their families are paying the price for the Democrats' reckless shutdown. Patriotic TSA agents like Anthony Riley continue to show up to work to keep our travelers safe. This is THIRD time in nearly six months the Democrats have forced our TSA officers to work without pay. These political stunts are creating incredible financial hardship for them and their families.”

— Department of Homeland Security (X (formerly Twitter)

What’s next

Absent a breakthrough on DHS funding, TSA officers will continue working unpaid, and airports will likely face worsening staffing shortages and longer lines as attrition rises and more officers call out or leave for other jobs. Senate leaders will bring up additional measures only if there is movement on immigration enforcement provisions or agreement to fund non-enforcement DHS components separately, and any further failed votes will keep the pay freeze in place for TSA employees until a compromise is reached.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the real-world consequences of political gridlock, as essential federal workers are forced to bear the brunt of budget battles in Washington. With spring break travel ramping up, the shutdown threatens to disrupt air travel and the broader economy, underscoring the need for Congress and the White House to find a bipartisan solution to fund the Department of Homeland Security and ensure TSA officers receive the paychecks they have earned.