Hope Fades for TSA Officers Seeking Paychecks

Congress remains deadlocked on funding the Department of Homeland Security, leaving hundreds of Baltimore airport TSA workers without pay.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 1:11am

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Hundreds of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at Baltimore's airport were left in limbo on Friday as hopes faded for a quick resolution to the partial government shutdown that has left them without paychecks. Union leaders said several 'big ifs' needed to happen for the officers to possibly receive backpay by next Friday, but by the late afternoon, those hopes were dashed as the stalemate in Congress continued.

Why it matters

The ongoing government shutdown has created significant hardship for federal workers like the TSA officers, who are essential to airport operations but have been working without pay. The inability of Congress to reach a deal on Department of Homeland Security funding is impacting both the officers' personal finances and the smooth functioning of the nation's transportation system.

The details

On Friday, union leaders representing the 600 TSA officers at Baltimore's airport told local news station WBAL-TV that they were hoping for a deal that would allow the officers to receive backpay by next Friday. However, by the afternoon, those hopes were crushed as the House rejected a Senate-passed bill to fund most of the Department of Homeland Security. President Trump then signed an executive action to pay the TSA employees, but the long-term funding issue remains unresolved in Congress.

  • On Friday morning, union leaders expressed hope that TSA officers could receive backpay by next Friday.
  • By Friday afternoon, those hopes were dashed as the House rejected a Senate bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security.

The players

Mac Johnson

President of AFGE Local 449, the union representing the TSA officers at Baltimore's airport.

Johnny Olszewski

U.S. Representative for Maryland's 2nd congressional district, who criticized Congress for its dysfunction in failing to pay the TSA workers.

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What they’re saying

“The hope is that the Congress of the United States of America would not go into recess and they debate this — the Senate's version — and vote upon this in the affirmative so that these employees can get a well-deserved paycheck and so they can take care of their families and their own needs.”

— Mac Johnson, President of AFGE Local 449

“I feel for what you're going through, and I'm so sorry that this Congress is so dysfunctional and divided that we can't do something basic like move forward in all the places that we agree. America deserves better. Our federal employees deserve better. People stuck at the airport deserve better than this.”

— Johnny Olszewski, U.S. Representative

What’s next

President Trump signed an executive action to pay the TSA employees, but the long-term funding issue for the Department of Homeland Security remains unresolved in Congress.

The takeaway

The ongoing government shutdown has created significant hardship for essential federal workers like the TSA officers, highlighting the dysfunction in Congress and the need for lawmakers to prioritize funding critical government services and supporting public sector employees.