❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order to fund Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees during the DHS shutdown.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Congress, and TSA employees.
📍WHEN & WHERE: March 27, 2026, United States.
💬KEY QUOTE: “My Administration will take action.” – Donald J. Trump
🎯IMPACT: TSA employees will receive compensation despite the shutdown, including backpay, if the executive order sticks.
In response to the Senate Democrat-caused shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), President Donald J. Trump has issued an executive order attempting to ensure that Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees receive their pay. The shutdown, now in its sixth week, has severely impacted America’s air travel system.
The order directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, along with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to utilize funds with a “reasonable logical nexus” to TSA operations to pay the over 60,000 TSA employees, including approximately 50,000 transportation security officers. These employees have been working without pay due to the shutdown, which was triggered by congressional Democrats’ demands to water down immigration enforcement.
The Senate has now passed a bill that excludes funding for deportations, but it appears dead on arrival in the House, with Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) indicating the House GOP will not accept it.
“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,” Trump’s order states, adding: “As President of the United States, I have determined that these circumstances constitute an emergency situation compromising the Nation’s security.”
Nearly 500 transportation security officers have resigned since the shutdown began, and many more have reported sick at unprecedented rates. This situation has led to excessive security wait times at airports, some reaching over many hours, causing chaos for travelers and increasing the risk of security issues amid the ongoing Iran war.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.