Then, on Thursday evening, President Donald Trump directed his newly installed Department of Homeland Security chief to swiftly pay TSA agents. This will keep happening without legislationThroughout the shutdown, many aviation officials have called on Congress to fund DHS or find a way to pay TSA workers. The Shutdown Fairness Act and the Keep America Flying Act would pay certain federal workers in the event of a funding lapse, including TSA employees. None of the bills appear to be moving forward since last fall, despite aggressive pushes from both sides of the aisle to pay workers. “It should be that federal employees get paid, even if Congress and the president don’t do their job.”The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros.

Source: CNN March 27, 2026 19:28 UTC