The Department of Homeland Security said Transportation Security Administration employees could start receiving pay as soon as Monday after President Trump signed an executive order intended to restore their wages. The move comes amid a fight between the House and Senate over a short‑term funding fix for DHS.
What unfolded
– The Senate approved, by unanimous consent, a brief funding measure that would cover most DHS operations but deliberately left out funding for ICE and Customs and Border Protection.
– House Speaker Mike Johnson refused to accept that Senate approach, calling it unacceptable, and said the House would send a “clean” continuing resolution to the Senate to fund the 10 DHS agencies at current levels through May 22.
– Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer warned the House plan would be rejected in the Senate and said Democrats would block it.
Why this matters
– TSA employees have worked without pay for weeks; DHS officials say pay could be restored quickly after the president’s order. The pay lapse has strained staffing and operations, and reports indicate more than 500 agents have left their jobs.
– The disagreement reflects larger policy fights over immigration enforcement funding and internal GOP strategy. Some conservatives in the House objected to the Senate’s bipartisan, unanimous‑consent route, prompting the Speaker to decline that bill.
– With the two chambers unable to agree, Senate Democrats have signaled they will not accept the House’s short‑term measure, raising the prospect the DHS funding lapse could continue. Senate leaders cautioned the shutdown could stretch past the current record of 43 days.
The president’s action and administration response
– President Trump signed an executive order aimed at restoring TSA pay. When questioned about funding sources, he directed inquiries to acting OMB Director Russell Vought and suggested agencies should identify internal funds to cover payments. Administration officials have not provided full details on where the money will come from or how it will be transferred.
– The president framed the dispute as rooted in past policy decisions and said he supported steps to keep DHS functioning.
Capitol Hill reaction and outlook
– Speaker Johnson said the House will forward a 60‑day continuing resolution to preserve current funding levels for DHS agencies while negotiators try to resolve outstanding policy differences.
– Senate Democrats and leaders called the House proposal unacceptable and signaled plans to block it, setting up continued partisan stalemate.
What happens next
– The executive order may alleviate immediate financial stress for some TSA workers, but without a bipartisan funding agreement, staffing and operational challenges at DHS components could persist. Lawmakers say negotiations will continue, but the impasse between the House and Senate makes a quick resolution uncertain.