Trump to Restart TSA Pay by Executive Order as DHS Funding Standoff Drags On

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he will sign an executive order to restart pay for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, who have gone without full paychecks for over a month due to the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding lapse. The shutdown, which began on February 14, has led to thousands of TSA absences and significant delays at major U.S. airports. Trump attributed the crisis to Democrats, stating on his social media platform Truth Social that he would use his legal authority “under the Law to protect our Great Country.” However, he did not specify the legal basis for the executive order.

The funding lapse stems from a stalemate in Congress over the DHS budget, with Senate Republicans and Democrats locked in negotiations for several weeks. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) said Republicans had sent what they described as their “last and final offer” to Senate Democrats in an effort to end the shutdown. The proposal reportedly includes funding for all DHS components except Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforcement and removal operations. Republicans have sought to exclude ICE enforcement from the funding bill due to Democratic demands for reforms and constraints on immigration enforcement agencies.

Democrats have resisted the Republican offer, arguing that it lacks meaningful reforms for ICE and continues to fund other controversial DHS agencies such as Homeland Security Investigations and Border Patrol. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) emphasized that Democrats want statutory reforms they can point to before agreeing to fund ICE operations. Coons also noted that new DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin had promised some changes, including the use of judicial warrants for immigration searches and seizures, but Democrats want these assurances in writing. The negotiations remain unresolved, and it is unclear whether the Republican proposal can secure the 60 votes needed in the Senate to pass.

In response to the ongoing impasse, Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) announced plans to introduce a bill that would reopen and fund the TSA independently of the broader DHS funding dispute. Kennedy argued that it was unfair to keep TSA officers unpaid and to subject the American public to prolonged airport delays. He indicated he might seek unanimous consent on the Senate floor to pass the measure. However, it remains uncertain whether Senate GOP leadership supports this approach. Meanwhile, Democrats have repeatedly proposed funding all DHS agencies except ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), but these efforts have been blocked by Republicans, prolonging the shutdown and its impact on federal workers and public services.