Presidential Memorandum on Paying Unpaid TSA Employees During Shutdown

White House: Presidential Actions

Published March 27th, 2026

Detected March 28th, 2026

Summary

President Trump issued a memorandum directing the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Director of OMB to use available funds to pay TSA employees who have not received compensation due to a government shutdown. This action is taken to address an emergency situation compromising national security and air travel system stability.

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What changed

President Trump has issued a memorandum directing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to use available funds to compensate Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees who have not been paid due to a government shutdown. The memorandum cites an "unprecedented emergency situation" and "Nation's security" compromised by the shutdown, which has led to TSA employees leaving their positions and increased wait times at airports. The directive aims to provide TSA employees with the compensation and benefits they would have received had the shutdown not occurred, utilizing funds with a "reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations."

This action requires immediate attention from DHS and OMB to identify and allocate the necessary funds. Compliance officers within DHS should ensure that the compensation provided is consistent with applicable law, particularly 31 U.S.C. 1301(a). While the memorandum states it does not create new rights or benefits enforceable by any party against the United States, it represents a significant executive action to mitigate the impact of a funding lapse on critical national security personnel. The directive also mandates efforts to adjust funding accounts once regular funding is restored to ensure continuity of DHS operations.

What to do next

Identify and allocate available funds with a nexus to TSA operations for employee compensation.
Provide TSA employees with compensation and benefits accrued during the shutdown.
Adjust applicable funding accounts upon restoration of regular funding to ensure continuity of DHS operations.

Source document (simplified)

Presidential Actions

Paying Our Great Transportation Security Administration Officers and Employees

Presidential Memoranda

March 27, 2026

MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY

THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET

SUBJECT: Paying Our Great Transportation Security Administration Officers and Employees

As the Democrat-caused shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues well into its sixth week, America’s air travel system has reached its breaking point. This is an unprecedented emergency situation. Currently, more than 60,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees, including approximately 50,000 transportation security officers who perform security functions at domestic airports, are not being paid due to congressional Democrats’ reckless decision to prioritize criminal illegal aliens over American citizens and shut down DHS until their demand to prohibit enforcement of Federal immigration law is met.

Since the shutdown began, nearly 500 transportation security officers have left their positions, and thousands more have begun to call out sick at record rates due to lack of pay. As a result, security wait times at some airports have reached untenable lengths of three or more hours. These increased wait times, combined with declining morale among TSA staff, unacceptably heighten the risk of security vulnerabilities within our domestic travel system and has negatively impacted countless Americans.

If Democrats in the Congress will not act to honor the service of our TSA officers, who are now performing their critical public safety responsibilities without knowing whether they will be able to buy food for their families or pay their rent, then my Administration will take action. As President of the United States, I have determined that these circumstances constitute an emergency situation compromising the Nation’s security.

Accordingly, I hereby direct the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to use funds that have a reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations to provide TSA employees with the compensation and benefits that would have accrued to them if not for the Democrat-led DHS shutdown, consistent with applicable law, including 31 U.S.C. 1301(a).

Once regular funding for TSA has been restored, every effort should be made, as authorized by law, to adjust applicable funding accounts within DHS to ensure the continuation of DHS operations and activities consistent with planned expenditures prior to the lapse.

Nothing in this memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. This memorandum shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. This memorandum is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

DONALD J. TRUMP