Maryland Lawmakers Unsure About TSA Worker Pay During Shutdown

Congressional delegation says funding for key agencies remains uncertain as partial government closure continues.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 11:46pm

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Two members of Maryland's congressional delegation, Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Rep. Johnny Olszewski, expressed uncertainty about how Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers will be paid in the coming weeks as the partial government shutdown drags on. Van Hollen said he is glad President Trump used an executive order to pay TSA workers, but called on Republicans to return to negotiations to fund the TSA, Coast Guard, and FEMA. Olszewski said the House should vote on a bill that pays workers and makes changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Why it matters

The ongoing partial government shutdown has left many federal workers, including those at key agencies like the TSA, in limbo about their paychecks. This uncertainty is causing hardship for workers and raising concerns about the potential impact on public services and security.

The details

Van Hollen and Olszewski, both Democrats, criticized the Republican-led Senate for not taking up a House-passed bill that would fund the TSA, Coast Guard, and FEMA. Olszewski suggested the Senate should use existing ICE funding to keep that agency operating rather than holding other agencies hostage in the shutdown fight.

  • The partial government shutdown began in late 2025 and is now in its fourth month.

The players

Chris Van Hollen

A Democratic U.S. Senator from Maryland.

Johnny Olszewski

A Democratic U.S. Representative from Maryland.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who issued an executive order to pay TSA workers.

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What they’re saying

“Let's fund TSA, let's fund the Coast Guard, let's fund FEMA. Let's not let those organizations get caught up in a debate over reforms to ICE.”

— Chris Van Hollen, U.S. Senator

“Let ICE use the tens of millions of funding and the years of funding and the slush fund they have to keep going. That's the path chosen by the U.S. Senate. It was passed unanimously.”

— Johnny Olszewski, U.S. Representative

What’s next

The House and Senate will need to reach a compromise on funding for federal agencies to end the partial government shutdown.

The takeaway

The ongoing partial government shutdown is causing significant uncertainty and hardship for federal workers, including those at critical agencies like the TSA. Resolving the impasse over immigration policy reforms and funding key agencies has become a political stalemate, with lawmakers from both parties calling for a solution.