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By Aliss Higham
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Transportation Security Administration (TSa) officers nationwide missed their first full paycheck Friday as a monthlong Department of Homeland Security shutdown persisted.
The missed payday comes as result of a political stalemate over Homeland Security funding that has forced essential TSA staff to work without pay, straining household finances and threatening airport operations during the spring travel period.
Why It Matters
TSA employees are designated essential and required to report to work even in the event of a partial or full government shutdown. The lapse in Homeland Security funding means their pay is withheld until Congress and the White House enact a spending bill or a stopgap measure, placing financial strain on workers and risking longer waits for travelers as callouts rise and officers seek other jobs.
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Airports have already warned of longer lines and potential flight delays as unscheduled absences increased and more than 300 TSA officers left their jobs since the shutdown began, according to CBS News.
With spring break travel ramping up, some airports and local partners are organizing food and essentials drives to support unpaid workers.
What To Know
TSA officers received roughly 30 percent of their pay in a prior paycheck during the shutdown but missed their first full paycheck Friday while continuing to report for duty.
Negotiations in Congress stalled as Democrats pressed for reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection before backing full Homeland Security funding, while Republicans rejected those demands and sought broader DHS funding without those conditions.
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The Senate failed to advance a measure to fund the department in a 51-46 vote on Thursday, marking the fourth unsuccessful attempt this year to pass DHS funding.
At Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, officials opened a pantry for TSA staff and are collecting nonperishable foods, hygiene items, and baby supplies, with airport dining and retail tenants contributing meals and discounts. Denver Airport has urged the public to donate grocery and gas gift cards for TSA workers.
It is the second time in recent months TSA and other DHS staff have had to work without pay after the October to November 2025 full government shutdown, which lasted 43 days and was the longest in U.S. history.
What People Are Saying
Erik Hansen, head of government relations at the U.S. Travel Association, said: “It’s the same story: It’s TSOs who are sleeping in cars, sleeping at the airport, saving on gas, losing out with childcare." He added: “The call-out rates are now increasing, and we’re seeing extraordinarily long lines at airports. Travelers are paying the cost, as well.”
The Department of Homeland Security said on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday: "Our TSA officers and their families are paying the price for the Democrats’ reckless shutdown. Patriotic TSA agents like Anthony Riley continue to show up to work to keep our travelers safe. This is THIRD time in nearly six months the Democrats have forced our TSA officers to work without pay. These political stunts are creating incredible financial hardship for them and their families."
Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said: “TSA officers screen nearly a billion passengers a year. With an average salary of around $35,000, these are workers who simply cannot afford to miss a paycheck. Right now, Congress is allowing them to do that work without one. Every time Washington fails to fund the government, these essential workers pay the price. So do travelers. So does the economy. That is why America’s travel industry has come together, because this workforce is too important, and the stakes are too high, for this to keep happening.”
What Happens Next
Absent a breakthrough on DHS funding, TSA officers will continue working unpaid, and airports will likely face worsening staffing shortages and longer lines as attrition rises and more officers call out or leave for other jobs.
Senate leaders will bring up additional measures only if there is movement on immigration enforcement provisions or agreement to fund non-enforcement DHS components separately, and any further failed votes will keep the pay freeze in place for TSA employees until a compromise is reached.
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