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Most Transportation Security Administration officers received paychecks Monday covering weeks of missed wages, offering partial relief as a prolonged shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security continues to disrupt airport operations nationwide.
The payments, which cover roughly four weeks of back pay, come after a 45-day funding lapse that has strained staffing at major U.S. airports and contributed to long security lines as officers quit or called out sick.
A TSA spokesperson said most employees received retroactive pay Monday, though some may experience delays depending on processing or banking timelines.
Shutdown fallout hits airport security
Because TSA officers are classified as essential workers, they are required to remain on the job even during funding lapses — often without pay until Congress restores funding.
The prolonged shutdown has taken a toll on the workforce.
More than 500 TSA officers have left the agency since the shutdown began, while thousands more have missed shifts, contributing to staffing shortages that have slowed screening operations at some of the country’s busiest airports.
Travelers in cities including Atlanta, Houston and New York have faced extended wait times in recent weeks, particularly during peak spring travel.
Trump administration moves to restore pay
The back pay follows an order from Donald Trump directing DHS and the Office of Management and Budget to reprogram funds with a “logical nexus” to TSA operations.
The move allowed the administration to compensate airport screeners despite the ongoing funding lapse — an unusual step that sidesteps the need for immediate congressional action.
Officials said the department is still working to process additional payments, including partial wages missed earlier in the shutdown.
Congress remains deadlocked
The shutdown, which began on Feb. 14, has now become the longest in U.S. history, surpassing last year’s 43-day record.
Lawmakers in both chambers — each controlled by Republicans — have failed to agree on a path forward.
The House and Senate passed competing funding bills last week but left Washington for a two-week recess without resolving their differences.
At the center of the impasse is a dispute over immigration policy.
Democrats have pushed to condition DHS funding on changes to the administration’s immigration enforcement practices following fatal shootings by federal agents in Minneapolis. Republicans have rejected those conditions and called for full funding of the department.
White House presses for full funding
At a Monday briefing, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt urged Congress to act, criticizing lawmakers for failing to reach an agreement.
“The president just can’t keep signing presidential memorandums and proclamations every time Congress fails to do its job,” she said, accusing Democrats of “picking and choosing” which agencies to fund.
Uncertain path forward
While the back pay provides short-term relief, experts say staffing challenges may persist until workers are confident that regular paychecks will resume.
Extended absences and resignations have already forced TSA to consolidate security lanes at some airports, contributing to delays that could continue during the busy spring travel season.
With Congress in recess and negotiations stalled, there is no clear timeline for ending the shutdown — leaving both travelers and federal workers in limbo.
