TSA Officers Receive First Paychecks After Weeks Without Pay

Partial payments come after President Trump signed order to use funds to pay TSA workforce during shutdown

Mar. 31, 2026 at 4:15am

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A solitary TSA officer stands alone in an empty airport terminal, the space bathed in warm, cinematic lighting and deep shadows, conveying a sense of isolation and uncertainty.As the partial government shutdown drags on, the financial strain on TSA officers highlights the human toll of political gridlock.Duluth Today

Transportation Security Administration officers received their first paychecks in more than a month on Monday, after President Donald Trump signed an order directing the Department of Homeland Security to use funds to pay the agency's workforce during the partial government shutdown. However, some TSA employees reported receiving only partial payments with deductions, and it remains unclear if they will receive full pay going forward.

Why it matters

The partial government shutdown has caused significant hardship for TSA officers, many of whom have had to take on second jobs, deplete their savings, and even face eviction notices due to missed bill payments. The payment delays have also impacted the morale and operations of the TSA, with the agency reporting its highest call-out rates during the shutdown.

The details

The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the TSA, said most employees will receive at least two full paychecks for the past two pay periods. However, some TSA officers reported receiving only partial payments with deductions, and it's unclear if they will receive full back pay. The payments came after Trump signed a presidential memorandum on Friday directing the DHS Secretary to use funds 'that have a reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations' to pay the agency's workforce.

  • TSA officers have been required to work the entire 45 days of the partial government shutdown, which began on February 14, 2026.
  • The first paychecks for TSA officers were received on Monday, March 31, 2026.

The players

Department of Homeland Security

The federal agency that oversees the Transportation Security Administration.

Markwayne Mullin

The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

Yolanda Keaton

A TSA officer at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport and a steward for AFGE Local 554.

Paul Uecker

A TSA officer at Duluth International Airport and Vice President of Greater Minnesota American Federation of Government Employees Local 899.

Oksana Kelly

A TSA officer at Orlando International Airport and mother of two.

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What they’re saying

“It was a partial pay with ample deductions taken out along with taxes. We did not receive all of our backpay ... A lot of officers paychecks are very very short and not everyone received their pay today.”

— Yolanda Keaton, TSA officer

“I know of at least one officer at MSP (Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport) who quit because they were having eviction processes started against them. They needed to find a way to get some money so that they could hopefully avoid that.”

— Paul Uecker, TSA officer

“I feel like they're playing with our lives. We all have children. We all have parents that, you know, people [to] take care of. It's not just some random officers. It's real people.”

— Oksana Kelly, TSA officer

What’s next

It remains unclear if TSA employees will receive full pay going forward, and there are reports of some not getting paid if they call out sick. Congress is now on a two-week spring recess and will not return for a vote on funding the Department of Homeland Security until April 13.

The takeaway

The partial government shutdown has caused significant financial hardship for TSA officers, many of whom have had to take on second jobs, deplete their savings, and even face eviction notices. This highlights the real human toll of political gridlock and the need for a more reliable and predictable system of federal employee compensation, especially for essential public safety workers.