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By Aliss Higham
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President Donald Trump said he would sign an order directing the Department of Homeland Security to immediately pay Transportation Security Administration agents as the Senate advanced a bill to fund most of DHS, raising questions about timing, back pay and airport delays for travelers.
Why It Matters
Almost 500 TSA workers have quit since a partial government shutdown began in mid-February that caused TSA officers to go weeks without pay. The departures have contributed to record security lines, missed flights and reports of staffing shortages nationwide, straining airport operations and the broader economy during a peak travel period.
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Overnight, the Senate moved to fund most of DHS, including TSA, but the House must act before those agencies can fully reopen, leaving near-term payroll timing dependent on either the executive order's implementation or final congressional approval.
When Will TSA Agents Get Paid?
Trump said he would sign an order instructing Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to immediately pay TSA agents. However, the president did not specify the funding source in his public post, and no implementation timetable was released.
A senior administration official, speaking anonymously, told the Associated Press the order would use money linked to Trump's 2025 tax bill. The White House had also considered a national emergency but faced legal and political risks, and details of the final mechanism remained unclear.
Separately, the Senate unanimously advanced a measure to fund most DHS components, including TSA, but paychecks tied to that bill would begin only after the House acts and a final measure is enacted. A vote in the House of Representatives could happen as early as Friday.
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Will TSA Agents Get Back Pay and When?
Federal workers historically receive full back pay once a government shutdown ends. Ha Nguyen McNeill, TSA's acting administrator, referenced that precedent this week, but exact disbursement dates depend on when funding, via Trump's executive order or via Congress, is signed into law and agency payroll processing resumes.
Will Airport Wait Times Go Down?
Industry groups said paying TSA would help stabilize checkpoints, though recent days saw wait times between four and six hours in some hubs despite the temporary deployment of ICE personnel, and any recovery could be uneven as staffing replenishes.
McNeill told Congress that about 480 officers had quit during the shutdown, and that training replacements could take four to six months, indicating some airports may see lingering constraints even after pay resumes.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: "I am going to sign an Order instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation, and to quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports."
Airlines for America CEO Chris Sununu said: "We are grateful to President Trump and Secretary Mullin for implementing a solution to pay tens of thousands of dedicated TSA officers for the important job they do, serving with professionalism on the frontlines of our nation's aviation system, despite not receiving pay for more than 40 days. President Trump's Executive Order will help restore order, allowing TSA officers to focus on the task at hand and millions of Americans to take to the skies this spring break."
What Happens Next
DHS will implement the executive order if signed, and TSA payroll will be disbursed based on available funding authorities identified by the administration, though the White House has not publicly detailed the exact mechanism.
The House is set to consider the Senate's partial DHS funding bill. If enacted, TSA funding will resume through legislation and back pay for missed pay periods processed in line with standard federal procedures following shutdowns.
Airports will likely see gradual relief at checkpoints as pay resumes, though facilities hit by high attrition may take longer to normalize while new officers complete training.
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