By Trendsetter Tribune 
On Friday, March 27, 2026, President Trump signed an executive memorandum directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to immediately begin paying more than 60,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees. The move comes as the partial DHS shutdown enters its 42nd day, officially becoming the longest partial government shutdown in U.S. history.
The President’s action is an attempt to mitigate a burgeoning “national security emergency” at U.S. airports, where extreme staffing shortages have led to record-breaking wait times and several terminal closures.
The “Emergency” Order
In a memorandum to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and OMB Director Russell Vought, the President declared that the “breaking point” of the air travel system necessitated executive intervention.
- The Funding Source: While the White House has not officially detailed the specific accounts, senior administration officials indicate the money is being drawn from funds established by the 2025 tax bill, which previously funneled billions into DHS.
- Payment Timeline: Secretary Mullin confirmed that processing has begun and workers should see paychecks in their accounts as early as Monday, March 30.
- Legal Status: Critics and some legal analysts have questioned the constitutionality of the move, noting that the “Power of the Purse” belongs to Congress. However, the administration argues the “emergency situation” grants the President the authority to ensure essential security operations continue.
The Congressional Standoff Continues
The executive order follows a dramatic collapse in negotiations on Capitol Hill. While the Senate passed a bipartisan deal early Friday to fund most of DHS, the effort was immediately rejected by the House.
| Chamber | Current Status | Sticking Point |
| U.S. Senate | Passed a “clean” funding bill for everything except ICE and Border Patrol. | Democrats refuse to fund immigration enforcement without major reforms. |
| U.S. House | Rejected the Senate bill; Speaker Mike Johnson called the gambit a “joke.” | Republicans demand full funding for the President’s deportation agenda. |
| The Result | Deadlock. | The House is now pursuing a two-month stopgap that Senate Leader Schumer says is “dead on arrival.” |
Impact on the Ground
The 42-day impasse has taken a severe toll on the aviation sector and federal workers:
- Staffing Crisis: Nearly 500 TSA officers have quit since the shutdown began on February 14.
- Callouts: Multiple major airports, including JFK and Hartsfield-Jackson, have reported callout rates exceeding 40% as unpaid workers struggle with eviction notices and utility shutoffs.
- Missed Wages: By today, TSA employees have missed an estimated $1 billion in total paychecks.
While the President’s order may stop the “chaos at the airports” by incentivizing officers to return to work, it does not resolve the broader funding lapse for the rest of DHS, leaving thousands of other employees in agencies like the Coast Guard and FEMA still working without pay.