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Trump vows to pay TSA agents as shutdown cripples airports
U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to issue an executive order directing immediate payment for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers, as airports nationwide grapple with record wait times during the ongoing partial government shutdown.
Shutdown enters critical phase
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees the TSA, has operated without funding since February after Congress failed to pass a budget. TSA agents-classified as essential workers-have been required to work without pay, relying on future congressional appropriations for compensation.
Democrats have blocked funding deals, demanding reforms to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) before approving the DHS budget.
Airport security collapses under staff shortages
Over 450 TSA agents have resigned since the shutdown began, exacerbating already severe staffing shortages. With roughly 50,000 agents nationwide, absenteeism has surged, leading to unprecedented delays.
Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport reported the highest no-show rate in the country, with nearly 40% of security staff missing shifts this week. The airport is operating at just 33-50% of its usual checkpoint capacity, according to Jim Szczesniak, director of aviation for the Houston Airport System.
Wait times at some major hubs, including New York, New Jersey, and Illinois, have stretched beyond four hours, with queues spilling into parking areas. TSA Acting Chief Ha Nguyen McNeill told a congressional committee Wednesday that current delays are the worst in the agency's 24-year history.
"After two hours in a winding line, travelers reached an escalator-only to find another massive queue ahead,"
BBC correspondent, describing conditions at Houston's airport
Legal doubts cloud Trump's pay order
Trump stated on social media Thursday that he would sign an order instructing newly confirmed Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to "immediately pay our TSA Agents." However, legal experts question the move's validity.
Josh Chafetz, a Georgetown University law professor, told the BBC that such payments would likely violate the Antideficiency Act, which bars federal spending without congressional approval. The Wall Street Journal reported that invoking the National Emergencies Act could bypass this restriction, but the White House has not confirmed a legal strategy.
"It's not an easy thing to do, but I am going to do it!" Trump wrote on Truth Social, though the order's feasibility remains uncertain.
ICE agents deployed as stopgap measure
The Trump administration has redeployed hundreds of ICE agents to 14 airports, including New York, Atlanta, and Houston, to mitigate TSA shortages. Unlike TSA workers, ICE agents continue to receive pay under a separate funding package passed last year.
Trump praised ICE's efforts on Wednesday, calling their work "unbelievable," and suggested he might mobilize the National Guard to assist if conditions worsen.
Agents face financial strain
TSA workers missed their first full paycheck two weeks ago, despite being required to work. While back pay is guaranteed once funding resumes, the shutdown has left many struggling to cover basic expenses.
"This is an emergency situation," Trump acknowledged in his post, though lawmakers remain deadlocked on a funding resolution.
