President Trump announced Thursday that he will sign an executive order to “immediately” pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown stretches into its sixth week.
“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,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
“It is not an easy thing to do, but I am going to do it! I want to thank our hardworking TSA Agents and also, ICE, for the incredible help they have given us at the Airports,” he added.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Hill that Trump will sign the executive order “as soon as it’s ready.”
A senior administration official said funding from Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act will be used to cover TSA pay during the shutdown.
“Not unlike actions taken during the first Democrat-shutdown (i.e., paying the troops), President Trump has determined that congressional Democrats have created an emergency situation that cannot be allowed to continue,” the official said.
The move comes on the 41st day of the DHS shutdown, which has caused hours-long security lines at airports nationwide.
The Hill previously reported that Trump was preparing executive action as Congress remains deadlocked over a broader DHS funding agreement. The Senate is currently holding open a vote on a wider funding bill, though its outcome remains uncertain.
Republicans have grown increasingly concerned that the prolonged shutdown could become a political liability ahead of the November midterm elections. There is also skepticism within the GOP that Democrats will accept a deal, despite multiple concessions from the White House.
Senate GOP sources indicated that the administration was prepared to act if Democrats continue to reject proposals, particularly those ensuring that DHS funding would not be used for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) removal operations.
Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said earlier Thursday that he delayed introducing legislation to pay TSA workers, anticipating Trump’s executive action.
