Homan Says TSA Workers Could Be Paid Within Days After Trump Steps In
TSA airport screeners could begin receiving pay again as soon as Monday following executive action from President Donald Trump, according to border czar Tom Homan. The move comes after more than six weeks of disrupted pay tied to a partial government shutdown driven by Democrats in Congress.
It has now been 43 days since TSA employees, who earn an average salary of about $49,000 per year, have received full compensation. Many workers have faced mounting financial pressure as missed paychecks stacked up during the ongoing funding dispute.
Homan said there is already a plan in motion to get payments out quickly. Speaking on CNN’s State of the Union, he pointed to an imminent resolution, saying TSA agents could see relief within days as the administration works to stabilize the situation.
He emphasized the toll the shutdown has taken on frontline workers, noting that many are struggling to cover basic expenses like rent and groceries while continuing to show up for work. At the same time, members of Congress remain paid during the standoff, a contrast he called unacceptable.
President Trump signed an executive order on Friday invoking emergency authority to allow the Department of Homeland Security to reallocate funds and ensure TSA workers are compensated. The move bypasses the stalled negotiations that have left the agency without full funding.
TSA employees last received a full paycheck on February 14, followed by a partial payment on February 28. Since then, they have missed two full pay periods, increasing pressure on both workers and the administration to find a solution.
The executive action came after negotiations in Congress broke down over how to fund the Department of Homeland Security. While the Senate passed a measure funding most of DHS, it excluded key enforcement arms like Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
House Republicans rejected that approach, citing uncertainty around using reconciliation and concerns with elements of the Senate proposal. Instead, they are pushing for a short-term funding measure to keep DHS fully operational while broader negotiations continue. With the Senate now in recess, the administration stepped in to act.