TSA Workers Receive Pay After 44-Day Shutdown
Transportation Security Administration officers are expected to receive their first paycheck this week, ending a 44-day period without pay, following President Donald Trump's directive. Tom Homan, the White House border czar, confirmed that paychecks could arrive by Monday or Tuesday, easing financial strain for workers who have struggled to feed families and pay rent.
Homan Outlines Conditions for ICE Withdrawal
Tom Homan stated on CBS's "Face the Nation" that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will remain at airports until operations return to normal. He explained that ICE presence depends on how many TSA agents resume work and whether any have quit permanently, with about 500 TSA officers having left since the shutdown began. Homan noted in a CNN interview that ICE agents are assisting by checking identification and protecting exit lanes, directly supporting TSA tasks amid ongoing shortages.
Persistent Airport Disruptions and Call-Outs
George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston reported 38.3% of TSA officers calling out sick on Saturday, while security wait times were under two hours but could reach four hours. Baltimore/Washington International Airport reported improved wait times from Saturday yet advised passengers to arrive hours early, affecting holiday travel for Passover and Easter. TSA Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill testified that absences reached 40% at some locations, forcing consolidations of checkpoints and delays for millions of passengers.
The sources report differing quit numbers: NPR cites 'more than 480 TSA workers' who quit, while ABC News states 'more than 500 TSA officers have quit since the funding crisis began on Feb. 14.'
ICE Role in Bolstering Security
ICE agents have been deployed to help TSA by plugging security gaps, as Homan described in his CNN appearance, with agents sent to Baltimore to reduce lines. About 50,000 TSA workers have operated without pay, prompting this assistance that began a week ago. Homan emphasized on "Face the Nation" that ICE will stay as long as needed to ensure airport security, especially given current operational strains.
Political Divide Over DHS Funding
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise claimed that the Senate-passed bill underfunds 25% of DHS operations, arguing it ignores security needs. Sen. Chris Van Hollen countered that Democrats support funding for TSA and other areas but oppose measures without immigration reforms, such as those following incidents in Minneapolis. Negotiations stalled as Congress recessed, with the Senate returning April 13 and the House on April 14, leaving funding unresolved and prolonging uncertainty for airport staff and travelers.
For example, the sources report that Homan's statements were made on CNN, not CBS as stated in the summary.