Trump Orders Pay for TSA Amid Airport Chaos

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday, March 28, instructing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers. This action comes amid a partial government shutdown that has lasted over 40 days, leaving TSA workers without pay and causing significant delays at major U.S. airports.

The shutdown reached its 45th day on Monday, April 1, becoming the longest in U.S. history. The DHS employs 193,867 people, making up 9.4% of the total federal workforce. The partial government shutdown has resulted in high call-out rates and resignations among TSA officers. As of Friday, DHS reported that nearly 500 TSA officers have quit since the shutdown began, with more than 12.35% of scheduled employees missing work on Friday.

The impact of the shutdown extends beyond airport security lines. Acting TSA head Ha Nguyen McNeill warned during a House Homeland Security Committee hearing that airports across the country are experiencing the 'highest wait times in TSA history.' She noted that many TSA workers have missed bill payments, received eviction notices, and even resorted to selling their blood and plasma to make ends meet. Some TSA agents are reportedly sleeping in their cars at airports to save gas money.

The situation is further complicated by the upcoming FIFA World Cup, which is expected to bring a significant influx of passengers to U.S. airports. Acting TSA head Ha Nguyen McNeill warned of a 'perfect storm' due to staffing shortages and increased passenger volume. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is projected to bring in more than 5 million visitors and produce $30 billion in economic output.

The signing came during a busy travel period, with spring breaks and upcoming holidays like Passover and Easter increasing airport traffic. Travelers have reported waiting nearly three hours to get through TSA screening, leading to missed flights and significant delays. For instance, Betty Mitchell arrived at Philadelphia International Airport at 12:30 a.m. for a 5 a.m. flight but missed her scheduled departure due to the long lines.

Amid growing chaos at airports during the shutdown, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have been deployed to assist TSA officers. White House border czar Tom Homan stated that ICE agents will remain at airports until 'they feel like they're 100%' in normal operations. The duration of ICE's presence will depend on how many TSA agents return to work and the level of staffing needed.

Employees with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport could soon be seeing their first paycheck in a month and a half, according to union leaders who received text messages indicating that paychecks could arrive as early as Monday. The news comes after President Trump signed an executive order on Friday to redirect funds to TSA.

TSA union leaders expressed hope that long-term solutions quickly follow, as employees have been relying on food shelves and community donations to get by. Neal Gosman with American Federation of Government Employees Local 899 emphasized the uncertainty, stating, 'We don't know if it's going to continue into the future. Technically, we are still in a shutdown because Congress has not approved the budget. There are a lot of unknowns.'

Despite reports of long lines at airports across the country, security checkpoints have been running smoothly at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). Spring breaker Samara Roberts from Duluth noted that TSA lines were about 20 minutes most of the time. Union leaders attributed this to officers understanding the importance of their work during an uncertain period.

The White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt is expected to hold a news conference at 1 p.m. EDT on Monday, April 1. Wait times at some TSA security bottlenecks, such as the airport checkpoints in Atlanta and Houston, improved significantly Monday morning. However, it remains unknown how long it will take for long security lines to consistently return to normal and how long federal immigration officers will stay in airports.

The DHS shutdown has resulted in not only travel delays but also warnings of airport closures as TSA workers missing paychecks stopped going to work. Those workers were just recovering financially since last fall's extended government shutdown. Wait times still pushed beyond two hours at New York's LaGuardia Airport Monday morning. Baltimore-Washington International Airport continued to advise travelers to arrive three hours before their scheduled departure, saying longer than normal waits could continue.

Travelers passing through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport may still feel the effects of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Airport officials say staffing shortages continue to affect TSA checkpoints, even as some TSA workers could begin receiving back pay Monday. Officials note that about 31% of TSA workers in Atlanta are still calling out, which remains well above normal.

The president signed an executive order directing pay for TSA workers, with back pay expected as early as Monday or Tuesday. Airport officials say that could help, but staffing remains unpredictable for now. At the airport Monday morning, wait times at the all-gates checkpoint were around 25 minutes, a major improvement from last week when some travelers reported waits as long as four hours.

Even after President Trump ordered emergency pay for Transportation Security Administration agents to ease long security lines, major U.S. airports on Sunday were still urging travelers to arrive hours early. Federal immigration officers brought in to help may not be leaving anytime soon. The move comes during a busy travel stretch, with spring breaks underway and Passover and Easter approaching.

Tens of thousands of TSA employees have been working without pay since DHS funding lapsed on Valentine’s Day. Trump deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to some airports a week ago to help with security as TSA callouts rose nationwide. White House border czar Tom Homan said it depends on how many TSA employees would be returning to work after they start receiving their pay.

'ICE is there to help our brothers and sisters in TSA. We’ll be there as long as they need us, until they get back to normal operations and feel like those airports are secure,' Homan told CBS’ 'Face the Nation.' Speaking on CNN’s 'State of the Union,' Homan said it also depends on how many TSA agents 'have actually quit and have no plan on coming back to work.'

Wait times at security checkpoints at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport improved on Sunday as TSA continues to deal with staff shortages, and immigration agents are filling in to assist. Funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not been approved, which has led to a shutdown of more than 40 days, leaving TSA officers without paychecks.

The Senate passed a bill early Friday to fund DHS, which didn't include money for ICE and other immigration removal, but it was rejected by the House. The House passed its own version to extend funding for the entire DHS, including ICE, for 60 days. It was the tale of two airports on Sunday, as passengers waited in long lines in the morning, causing some to miss their flights.

The crew explained they were holding bags for people who had later flights to not cause chaos on the baggage belts. In the morning, lines were long, but not as long as on other days this weekend when passengers waited four or five hours just to get through security. Many said they arrived hours before their flight because they weren't sure what to expect.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore shared his support for those TSA workers in Maryland and across the country who still work long shifts, despite not getting paid. The governor also thanked those who gave food donations to the workers and the travelers for being 'patient and understanding.'