President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he will use his executive authority to ensure Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents receive overdue paychecks, aiming to alleviate mounting delays at airports across the country. The move comes amid a prolonged funding standoff between Republicans and Democrats over the Department of Homeland Security's budget.
In a Truth Social post, Trump blamed Democrats for the crisis, stating, '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!'
'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.'
The decision invokes the National Emergency Act, allowing the president to redirect unspent government funds to temporarily cover TSA wages without congressional approval. TSA employees have gone unpaid for over a month, leading to increased absenteeism and security delays as spring break travel peaks.
The funding impasse stems from Democratic demands for stricter regulations on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. Senate Majority Leader John Thune offered a compromise Thursday, proposing to fund most of DHS while excluding certain ICE activities, but Democrats have yet to agree.
As negotiations stall, airports nationwide face growing disruptions, with long security lines and delays threatening travel plans for millions of Americans. The urgency to resolve the crisis intensifies as major holidays like Easter and Passover approach.