President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he’s ordering the Department of Homeland Security to “immediately pay our TSA agents” amid the ongoing partial government shutdown.
The DHS shutdown began more than 40 days ago after lawmakers failed to reach a deal on funding the agency. Since then, TSA agents have been working without pay, which has led to staffing shortages and long security lines in airports nationwide.
“Because the Democrats have recklessly created a true National Crisis, I am using my authorities under the Law to protect our Great Country, as I always will do,” the president wrote on Truth Social.
“Therefore, 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,” he added.
Trump also thanked the “hardworking TSA Agents” and ICE agents who have been deployed to several airports across the U.S. this week to assist with the long lines.
This comes after the White House turned down an offer from billionaire Elon Musk to pay TSA agents during the funding lapse. A White House spokesperson previously told The Independent his offer poses “great legal challenges due to his involvement with federal government contracts.”
Many TSA agents live paycheck to paycheck, which means they’ve been struggling to pay for rent, groceries and other necessities during the funding lapse, according to Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill.
“Officers are reportedly sleeping in their cars at airports to save gas money, selling their blood and plasma, and taking on second and third jobs to make ends meet, all while expected to perform at the highest level when in uniform to protect the traveling public,” McNeill said Wednesday in a statement to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
“Many have received eviction notices, lost their childcare, missed bill payments and been charged late fees, damaged their credit, defaulted on loans, and have been unable to even qualify for a loan to help ease the financial burden during the shutdown,” she added.
Angela Grana, a TSA agent in Colorado, told CBS News she’s feeling “deflated” and “demoralized” amid the shutdown.
“I’m feeling unimportant and unvalued,” she said on Thursday. “My bills haven't stopped coming. They’re still pounding on my door and my bank account is empty. So, I'm lost. I'm drowning.”
Democratic lawmakers have said they’re demanding reforms to immigration enforcement operations before they’ll agree to fund DHS.
Republicans gave Democrats their “last and final” offer to end the shutdown on Thursday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters. Amid the mounting pressure to reach an agreement, a group of more than 10 lawmakers from both parties has been working to negotiate the details, according to the Associated Press.
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