White House Holds Briefing as DHS Shutdown Drags On

TSA workers to receive paychecks as early as Monday, but airport delays continue

Mar. 30, 2026 at 4:35pm

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A serene, cinematic painting of a lone TSA security checkpoint in an airport terminal, with warm sunlight streaming in through the windows and deep shadows casting a pensive mood over the scene.The prolonged DHS shutdown has cast a somber, uncertain mood over the nation's airports, as security lines and staffing shortages continue to disrupt air travel.Houston Today

After weeks of chaos at U.S. airports due to the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, the White House is holding a press briefing as the situation remains uncertain. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it has begun the process of paying its workers, with paychecks arriving as early as Monday, but long security lines and delays persist at major airports like Atlanta, Houston, and New York's LaGuardia.

Why it matters

The DHS shutdown has caused significant disruptions to air travel, with TSA workers missing paychecks and calling out of work in large numbers. This has led to extended wait times at airport security checkpoints and warnings of potential airport closures. The situation has highlighted the impact of political gridlock on critical government services and the traveling public.

The details

President Donald Trump ordered the DHS to pay TSA officers immediately in an effort to ease the airport lines. The shutdown reached 44 days on Sunday, eclipsing the previous record of 43 days last fall. Multiple airports experienced callout rates greater than 40%, and nearly 500 of the agency's nearly 50,000 transportation security officers quit during the shutdown. Trump also deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to some airports to help with security as TSA callouts rose nationwide.

  • The DHS shutdown reached 44 days on Sunday, March 30, 2026.
  • The previous record for a government shutdown was 43 days last fall.

The players

Karoline Leavitt

The White House press secretary who is expected to hold a news conference at 1 p.m. EDT.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who ordered the DHS to pay TSA officers immediately to ease the airport lines.

Tom Homan

The White House border czar who said the length of ICE agent deployments to airports depends on how quickly TSA employees return to work.

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What’s next

The White House press secretary is expected to provide more details on the administration's response to the ongoing DHS shutdown and its impact on air travel during the 1 p.m. EDT briefing.

The takeaway

The DHS shutdown has caused significant disruptions to air travel, with TSA workers missing paychecks and calling out of work in large numbers. While the administration has taken steps to address the issue, the long-term impact on airport operations and the traveling public remains uncertain as the political gridlock continues.