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

President takes action to ease airport security lines as shutdown drags on

Mar. 28, 2026 at 10:49am

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President Donald Trump has signed an executive action to pay Transportation Security Administration employees after a bid to end the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security fell apart in Congress. The move aims to ease long security lines at many of the nation's top airports, but does little to resolve the broader DHS funding impasse.

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 nation's longest government shutdown, which has now reached 44 days.

The details

Trump signed the action with an eye toward easing long security lines at many of the nation's top airports. He said his administration would use 'funds that have a reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations' for the payments. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said TSA workers 'should begin seeing paychecks as early as Monday'.

  • The shutdown of Homeland Security 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 later that day.

The players

Donald Trump

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

Markwayne Mullin

The Secretary 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 going 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 allowed 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 bills when lawmakers return from recess in two weeks, in order to end the DHS shutdown.

The takeaway

The ongoing DHS funding impasse has led to growing airport security lines and financial hardship for thousands of federal workers, underscoring the need for Congress to find a bipartisan solution to keep the government open and ensure the smooth functioning of critical agencies like the TSA.