Recently, President Trump took to social media to claim that employees at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will start to get paid, despite there being no end in sight for the partial government shutdown. Obviously TSA employees getting paid could spell the end of chaos at airports.
There’s now an update, as Trump has just issued a presidential memoranda explaining the framework by which TSA employees will be paid as of Monday, March 30, 2026, and it sounds like this is actually happening.
In this post:
Trump finds a “creative” way to pay TSA employees
Over the past several weeks, we’ve increasingly seen chaos at airports in the United States, given the partial government shutdown, with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) not being funded.
We’re seeing a record number of TSA employees calling in sick, as they haven’t been paid for their last three paycheck periods, and many airports are seeing security wait times of several hours.
Generally speaking, the way to end shutdowns is for us to see a compromise in Congress, but there’s no sign of that happening. We did see the Senate pass a funding bill for the DHS, which would’ve included pay for TSA employees, without including funding for ICE. However, leadership in the House refused to vote on this, so no progress has been made there.
However, Trump has now issued a presidential memorandum, explaining how and why TSA agents will start to be paid:
- Trump claims that airport wait times, combined with declining morale among TSA staff, unacceptably heighten the risk of security vulnerabilities within the domestic travel system
- Trump claims that he has determined that these circumstances constitute an emergency situation compromising the country’s security
- Trump is directing Markwayne Mullin, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to use existing government funds to pay TSA employees, citing 31 U.S.C. 1301(a)
- Once regular funding is restored, funding accounts should be adjusted so that those amounts are paid back, and money is appropriated correctly
For those curious, here’s the full presidential memoranda:
As the Democrat-caused shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues well into its sixth week, America’s air travel system has reached its breaking point. This is an unprecedented emergency situation. Currently, more than 60,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees, including approximately 50,000 transportation security officers who perform security functions at domestic airports, are not being paid due to congressional Democrats’ reckless decision to prioritize criminal illegal aliens over American citizens and shut down DHS until their demand to prohibit enforcement of Federal immigration law is met.
Since the shutdown began, nearly 500 transportation security officers have left their positions, and thousands more have begun to call out sick at record rates due to lack of pay. As a result, security wait times at some airports have reached untenable lengths of three or more hours. These increased wait times, combined with declining morale among TSA staff, unacceptably heighten the risk of security vulnerabilities within our domestic travel system and has negatively impacted countless Americans.
If Democrats in the Congress will not act to honor the service of our TSA officers, who are now performing their critical public safety responsibilities without knowing whether they will be able to buy food for their families or pay their rent, then my Administration will take action. As President of the United States, I have determined that these circumstances constitute an emergency situation compromising the Nation’s security.
Accordingly, I hereby direct the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to use funds that have a reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations to provide TSA employees with the compensation and benefits that would have accrued to them if not for the Democrat-led DHS shutdown, consistent with applicable law, including 31 U.S.C. 1301(a).
Once regular funding for TSA has been restored, every effort should be made, as authorized by law, to adjust applicable funding accounts within DHS to ensure the continuation of DHS operations and activities consistent with planned expenditures prior to the lapse.
Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
This development is great news all around (mostly)
Political implications aside (an important detail, of course), I think none of us really want airports to be a complete mess, so are happy if TSA agents are once again paid. For that matter, TSA agents deserve to get paid, as I feel horribly for the extent to which they’re being used as pawns.
Trump is known for operating around the typical interpretation of the law, to put it politely. So it’s not surprising that the legal basis for this is all a bit questionable, though there probably won’t be an easy way for that to be challenged. For that matter, I’m not sure it’s really in anyone’s best interest for TSA employees to not be paid.
Now, the irony is that using Trump’s current logic, it sounds like he could have funded the TSA weeks ago, so one wonders why he waited this long.
I suspect that TSA employees getting paid will cause the partial government shutdown to drag on even longer, since problems at airports are ultimately what often cause shutdowns to end. I was planning on not taking any more flights in the US until the partial shutdown ended, unless absolutely necessary.
So while I’m happy if airports go back to normal and hardworking TSA agents get paid, I also understand the political importance (on both sides) of shutdowns.
As you’d expect, airlines are very happy about this development. It’s interesting to look at Delta’s carefully worded statement about this development:
“Delta is grateful that the executive order announced today by the President will restore pay to TSA professionals, and we thank them for working to keep our airports secure during the partial government shutdown. We also thank our customers for their patience amid longer-than-usual security lines, and our employees for taking care of our customers during a challenging time for travel.”
As you can see, Delta says it’s grateful for the executive order, and thanks TSA employees, customers, and employees, but as you can see, stops short of naming Trump. Delta recently took the controversial stance of cutting perks for members of Congress until the government shutdown ends.
Bottom line
President Trump has issued a presidential memoranda, whereby TSA officers will once again get paid. He claims that the lack of TSA screeners is causing a safety issue at airports, and is using other government funds to temporarily pay them.
While the legality of all of this is questionable, ultimately I can’t imagine that anyone will stop him. Hopefully that means airports will likely be back to normal in the coming days. And I’m also happy that TSA agents will once again get paid, since it’s just not fair for them to work for weeks without pay.
What do you make of this update about TSA employees getting paid?
And all it took was Delta revoking government perks lol
Trump isn't paying for anything. He caused this mess, and we are paying for it.
And also the menace in the oval has illegally moved funding around for the entirety of this term. This EO actually looks to provide a legal basis that is better than some of the other things he has done. The cynic in me says he's giving DHS the chance to say it can't be done...
US Constitution states that an unpaid labor can only be used as a punishment for crime, otherwise it constitutes slave labor. Left wing commi Democrats are trying to enslave US government employees, including women and colored folk.
Just pay them. And yes the entire TSA apparatus needs an overall.
Do people even realize that at "normal" staffing level, TSA is still a sh*tshow.
What's with the 8 scanners but only 3 lines, one of them is pay up to join PreCheck.
Why do I still see closed lanes and unused scanners even during the peakest of the peak times.
Because people as a complete group are never all together at the same time . Some cannot be found , some are late , some are ill , some remain in bed .
Same as some passengers never show up for boarding .
I'm not sure what point you're trying to make but in the context of those scanners that I'm talking about.
You're suggesting some x-ray machines "cannot be found , some are late , some are ill , some remain in bed ."
Are you batshit crazy?
Trump and company has a stellar history of " creative accounting ". Finally a useful attribute from this administration.
I'm sure the Mr. Schumer will happily support the President in this excellent solution.
Apparently, the President doesn’t need Congress to fund the government, so… Schumer is irrelevant. Yeah, maybe NY should have a new Senator; also, perhaps, Democrats should get actual Progressives as minority leaders in both chambers, too.
Did you even say "Thank You" to Trump for ending all of the chaos he has evidently been causing for a month, and could have ended earlier with the stroke of a pen?
Are you JD Vance trying to stiff Zelensky?
Which by the way Trump claim that he can end in a day? All that before he started another war?
"national emergency" has lost all meaning when he declares it every time he didn't get his way. "My steak is medium instead of well-done EMERGENCY!!" lol
I really wish Ben would not mention Trump. Mentioning him invokes all the libs with Trump Derangement Syndrome to start spouting off. It is sickining and makes me want to stop following this site. The site should not invovle politics only Travel. Please stop everyone!
As a non-American, how soon Republicans forgot about Obama Derangement Syndrome
The word that you are looking for is "incites," not "invokes."
“Pwease don’t even mention the pwesident because any cwiticism of him makes me, a delicate snowfwake, vewy upset”
Just because you're in denial of the horse you let loose in the hospital doesn't mean the rest of us need to share in your delusion.
Enjoy those tax cuts, I guess.
"Trump derangement syndrome" is the most overused term by right-wing nutcases who are tired of hearing him being called out and held accountable for all of the bs he pulls.
Senate passed a compromise bill today. Wow what a concept!
Then the redneck MAGA mouth breathers in the House said No Thanks to funding the government.
Prepare to be swamped in Nov, Red Team.
The house members are still gargling the fat orange Nazi's tiny balls. While John Thune is no Churchill, he's not the wimpy frightened closet case that Mike Johnson is.
In the military self inflicted wounds are a chargeable offence.
capn bone spurs wouldn't understand...
25 million a lie
asylums a lie
long lines at security a nationall threat a lie
TSA leeches should all be fired, they do nothing for this country and expect to be paid.
Trump is being way too generous with this, it should be mandated that anyone who gets paid also needs to vote for him in November.
Pretty unhelpful statement.
I doubt JPlat even lives in the US.
Vote how you wish. 219 days.
You have the IQ of a snail.
Data point: just flew out of ATL this morning. No premier access lines available, and no CLEAR. You're either TSA precheck or regular line. Got though security in less than 9 minutes in regular line. So things looked better already-
What time was your flight? cause I was seeing reports of lines out the door early morning on Friday so not sure how you got through in 9 mins.....I flew out of ATL at 7pm on Wednesday the 25th, was in the TSA Precheck line at 2pm and was out by 3:30pm, I thought it was going to take even longer but the 1.5 hours was miserable enough. I agree that having mounds of people in line is a huge compromise to our security
The TSA screener matter is a national emergency. It's not as bad as nuclear war but is serious enough that I consider it an emergency. Stop the legal games you politicians (no single party is totally responsible, both are), just pay them.
"(no single party is totally responsible, both are)"
No, the Republic party is it totally responsible. They have the entire government, including the "supreme" court, in their back pocket, and can't get anything done.
Wait, except corruption. They can get corruption done, and they do, every single day, may times per day, always and ad infinitum.
Willy - why don't you go back and read your High School Civics book. Minority party in the Senate (the Dems) can filibuster and therefore it requires some minority votes.
The crime is that never before has the minority party used the filibuster to essentially enact a line item veto over policies they don't like. They need to be careful. I can see Republicans using the same tactic in the future to pass the SAVE act.
I waited three hours in line at JFK. It was extremely frustrating. My legs hurt. I had to rebook my flight. But, no, it wasn’t as bad as nuclear war.
Our President once again has to clean up the mess caused by the Democrats.
LOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!11!!!!!!!!!!
Jim. Dagnumit you are on the Mt. Rushmore of low IQ individuals who visit this site and post (but prob never leave whatevs shthole you live in to actually travel).
UA-NYC, Can you please lift your head from your CNN app for a moment and tell us what part of my post is not true? President Trump literally is bypassing the Democrats refusal to fund the TSA and is signing an executive order to do so.
The same could be said of you. Get your head out of Newsmax, Fox, or MyPillowguy TV.
Fact is Dems put in 9 bills with no strings attached to fund TSA.
Yes he's signing an executive order to use emergency funds, the legality aside, that's a stop gap. Those funds will be pulled from who knows what, Cybersecurity, FEMA, Coastguard.
Tiny brained Jim - you know the Senate DID pass a bipartisan bill today to fund TSA, right? The same Senate that has more Rs than Ds?
Jesus H you people are so dense.
Not really on top of the news, posting this the day after the Senate passes funding for TSA, by voice vote unanimously, and sends it to the House for immediate action.
Please do pay them and for all those that showed up give them a $20K bonus. I'd be pissed if twice in one year I wasn't paid on time.
How do those waiting in lines go locate a lavatory ?
What happened to all the tax money we pay for security when we purchase a ticket ?
"What happened to all the tax money we pay for security when we purchase a ticket ?"
It's going to a war of choice that's being waged to distract from the Trump files.
I’d be curious who would sue to stop the administration on this one. Wouldn’t that be political suicide?
I am glad the TSA workers will now get paid. This situation is ridiculous and nothing more than a distraction from the chump epstein files.
both houses of Congress came up w/ a funding bill regardless of what Trump was going to do.
There was no way they were going to miss their vacation.
Just had a friend spend 5 hours in TSA lines at IAH.
Let's hear what lines are like today.
It really did come down to them not wanting to miss their recess, didn’t it? So lame.
Let's not hear what lines are like today .
The lines exist whether we hear about them or not .
One brainwashed person wrote she doesn't care where the money is coming from. After all we put illegals in hotels
1- you're foolish to think that he won't take the money out of something that other people need
2- when Texas and Florida shipped asylum seekers to the big cities. Those people have the right to stay until they had a court hearing and there was no place to put them in it...
One brainwashed person wrote she doesn't care where the money is coming from. After all we put illegals in hotels
1- you're foolish to think that he won't take the money out of something that other people need
2- when Texas and Florida shipped asylum seekers to the big cities. Those people have the right to stay until they had a court hearing and there was no place to put them in it except hotels
3-you didn't mention that the Coast guard is not getting paid
4- YOU DO KNOW THAT TRUMP TURNED DOWN FUNDING TSA FOR 2 WEEKS BECAUSE HE WOULD HAVE HAD TO GIVE IN ON ICE -NO?
Agreed. Not that the Alien Enemies Act is in play but it's worth noting it doesn't require detention. But, it does afford such a person a reasonable amount of time to settle their affairs -- with "reasonable" being based on the complexity of their affairs. Back to our present case, while those unlawfully present should leave, a less costly process might have been developed. Privately, the president has acknowledged his deportation process has been too harsh.
If the president has the power to do this now, the president had the power to do this earlier. The Congressional Record reflects that the minority party repeatedly proposed bills to fund TSA and the majority party repeatedly opposed those bills. In the end, the president's action does what the minority party proposed.
Separately, it's interesting to note that the TSA PRE-CHECK lines were NOT experiencing the long wait times. Even at IAD. While much attention was paid to the "regular" TSA lines, the Pre-Check wait lines across the country have been short . . . typically, 10 minutes or less.
“Across the country” - yes it’s the same everywhere across the country, from your couch in Baltimore. Idiot
Atypically, TSA-pre at JFK T8 at 5am this morning was 45 minutes, you nincompoop.
Multiple flights over the last two weeks, max wait 15 min (EWR, Clear)
ATL at 6am last Monday I waited almost 2.5 hours for TSA Pre
This is a false narrative that Republicans are responsible for TSA clerks not getting paid. Those bills were garbage, and that's why the Republicans rejected them. They would have compromised immigration and border security. The Democrats are trying to get back to having an open border policy like they did when Biden and Mayorkas were in charge.
Apparently not the Rs in the Senate, David. Twat.
Please David, by all means: go look up the bills and post chapter and verse of what was so objectionable. You just gonna take your team's word for it? When they have such a long history of lying to your face? Treating you like you were born yesterday? C'mon man.
Nah.
The National Emergency and Chaos is created by the regime in Washington, and it extends abroad too. The end result of this will be a deep recession, stagflation, and a partial or full default on US government debt.
Ah The National Emergency Act. Rob Peter to pay Paul. And we really need more tacky gold decorations!
“I have to imagine that this will be challenged in court.”
Who’s going to challenge this in court? Not a good look, to say the least. Whatever your political stripes, do you really want to be the one suing to keep TSA agents from being paid?
My concern is for all the govt employees other than TSA agents who aren’t being paid, such as FEMA employees. They may not cause lines at airports or make headlines, but they deserve to get paid just as much.
You are Spot on OtherDavid. No one would challenge this in court, and President Trump knows that.
But, then again the left wing lunatics could find a judge to halt the paying of TSA workers. Should not have happened in the first place. Debate all you want, but don't shutdown parts of the government while you debate. Issue was going to be solved today anyway as Congress wants to go on recess.
The right...
You are Spot on OtherDavid. No one would challenge this in court, and President Trump knows that.
But, then again the left wing lunatics could find a judge to halt the paying of TSA workers. Should not have happened in the first place. Debate all you want, but don't shutdown parts of the government while you debate. Issue was going to be solved today anyway as Congress wants to go on recess.
The right answer is when there is a government shutdown like this, all members of Congress and Senators must remain in the Capital Building until it s resolved. Slide pizza (only cheese, no toppings - sorry of you're lactose intolerant) under the locked doors, and they can have water and coffee. They get no pay if a single federal employee or military members is without pay.
Trump was right at the SOTU. Dems care more about illegal immigrants than our own hard working citizens.
Honestly, if the TSA workers are being paid and it solves the problem, who cares where the money comes from? If we can find billions of dollars to put illegal immigrants in hotels, $7 billion in New York City alone, then certainly we should be able to find money to pay the TSA workers, don’t you think?
You'd think so, yet here we are.
The world laughs, at the stupidity.
How about if the administration made a "deal" with Putin to sell people to Russia to staff his army. Would it matter then where the money came from?
Ellizabeth- you are using way too much common sense.
Markwayne done go’n fix it, and his cousin Billy-Joe-Jimbob go’n help out too! MAGAAAAAAA!
"I don't understand why people criticize the president just because he doesn't like brown people." That's a quote. On camera. Look it up.
It’s extraordinary to me that the Orange maniac makes statements like that - what has happened to the once great country that was the USA- who’s going to pay for the insolvency