Trump Signs Order to Pay TSA Employees After Congress Fails to Agree on DHS Funding

President's action aims to ease long security lines at airports as shutdown drags on.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 7:20am

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President Donald Trump signed an executive action on Friday to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees after a bid to end the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) fell apart in Congress. Trump said the action was necessary to address the 'breaking point' reached by the nation's air travel system due to the shutdown.

Why it matters

The DHS shutdown has resulted in travel delays and warnings of airport closures as more TSA workers missing paychecks have stopped going to work. This has exacerbated the impact on air travel, which was already suffering from the longest government shutdown last fall.

The details

Trump's action will use 'funds that have a reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations' to pay the workers, according to the memo. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said TSA employees 'should begin seeing paychecks as early as Monday.' However, the action does little to resolve the broader DHS shutdown, as the House and Senate passed vastly different funding bills, creating a new impasse.

  • The DHS shutdown will reach 44 days on Sunday, eclipsing the record 43-day shutdown last fall.
  • The Senate passed a funding deal early Friday, but the House rejected it and instead passed a bill to fund DHS through May 22.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who signed the executive action to pay TSA employees.

Markwayne Mullin

The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security who said TSA workers should begin receiving paychecks as early as Monday.

Mike Johnson

The Speaker of the House who accused Democrats of playing a 'dangerous game' and announced the House would be taking a different route on DHS funding.

Chuck Schumer

The Senate Democratic leader who said the House GOP plan would be 'dead on arrival in the Senate.'

Hakeem Jeffries

The House Democratic leader who said the Senate-passed bill would clear the House with Republican and Democratic votes if the Speaker allowed it to be voted on.

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What they’re saying

“America's air travel system has reached its breaking point.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States

“This gambit that was done last night is a joke.”

— Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House

“This could end, and should end, today.”

— Hakeem Jeffries, House Democratic Leader

What’s next

The House and Senate will need to reconcile their vastly different funding bills for the Department of Homeland Security when lawmakers return from recess in two weeks.

The takeaway

The ongoing DHS shutdown has severely impacted air travel, leading the President to take emergency action to pay TSA workers. However, the broader political impasse remains unresolved, raising concerns about the stability of the nation's security infrastructure.