Donald Trump is preparing to authorize an emergency directive to ensure TSA agents receive their salaries amid the ongoing partial government shutdown.
As the deadlock stretches into its 41st day, the president has been exploring options to bypass Congress, with ICE agents continuing to bolster security at airports that are experiencing significant delays.
On the Truth Social platform, Trump accused the Democrats and their leader, Chuck Schumer, of siding with “criminal illegal aliens” rather than prioritizing the American public.
Trump emphasized that he is leveraging his legal powers to enact this executive measure.
He stated, “I will sign an order instructing Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to promptly pay our TSA agents to address this emergency situation and swiftly end the Democrat-induced chaos at airports.”
The president declared that he would not permit the “Radical Left Democrats to continue holding the country hostage.”
Some Senate Republicans pitched to the White House that Trump declare a national emergency, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
If Trump invoked the National Emergency Act, he could use unspent government dollars to temporarily pay TSA workers.
Donald Trump is set to sign an emergency order to pay TSA agents during the partial government shutdown
Republican senators also discussed paying TSA agents with money from the Big, Beautiful Bill passed by Congress last year, the Journal said.
Bypassing Congress was discussed at a private lunch Thursday, the Washington Post reported, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune sharing plans.
The White House confirmed that options are on the table.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt told the Post, ‘it is true the White House is having discussions about a number of ideas to blunt the impact of the Democrat shutdown crisis, but no preparations or plans are currently underway.’
‘The best and easiest way to pay TSA Agents is to fund DHS,’ Leavitt added.
The Department of Homeland Security hasn’t been funded in 41 days after Democrats and Republicans came to an impasse over Immigration and Customs Enforcement funding in the aftermath of border agents killing two Americans.
Democrats have refused to agree to a deal that doesn’t rein ICE in.
Republicans have refused to fund DHS with the exception of ICE – which would allow TSA workers to get their paychecks.
Earlier this week, Trump tried to tie DHS funding legislation to getting his Save America Act across the line, which requires proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer blasted Trump for trying to ‘sabotage negotiations.’
As the partial shutdown dragged on, airport chaos ramped up, with Trump deploying ICE agents to airports around the country.
On Wednesday, the White House rejected Elon Musk’s $250 million offer to cover TSA workers’ salaries.
‘I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country,’ Musk, the world’s richest man, posted on X Monday.
But the offer was rejected by the White House on Wednesday despite Trump earlier stating he ‘loved’ the proposal.
‘We greatly appreciate Elon’s generous offer,’ White House Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told the Daily Mail in a statement. ‘This would pose great legal challenges due to his involvement with federal government contracts.’
‘The fastest way to ensure TSA employees – and all DHS employees – get paid is for Democrats to fund the Department of Homeland Security.’
Officials seriously considered Musk’s offer but were also concerned it could represent a conflict of interest.
If Musk did pay the TSA workers’ salaries, there could be legal challenges due to the Tesla and SpaceX executive’s many government contracts.
