WASHINGTON — Transportation Security Administration workers continued to face delays in receiving paychecks on Sunday as the partial government shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security entered its 44th day with no resolution in sight.
Approximately 61,000 TSA officers have worked without regular pay since funding lapsed on Feb. 14 amid a congressional impasse over immigration enforcement funding. Many officers have missed multiple paychecks, with some already skipping a second full paycheck earlier this month. The delays have contributed to higher call-out rates and attrition, straining airport security operations nationwide.
The shutdown began after Congress failed to agree on full-year appropriations for DHS, with disagreements centering on funding levels and oversight for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. TSA officers, deemed essential, must continue screening passengers, baggage and cargo while awaiting payment. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday directing the use of prior-year funds to provide immediate back pay to TSA workers, with Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stating that some employees could begin receiving pay as early as Monday. However, implementation details and timelines remained unclear as of Sunday.
The funding dispute has led to extended security lines at major U.S. airports during the spring travel season. Officer call-out rates rose from about 4 percent before the shutdown to as high as 11 percent or more at some facilities, with hundreds of TSA personnel resigning since mid-February. Smaller airports have faced the risk of temporary closures due to insufficient staffing, according to TSA officials.
The Senate approved legislation early Friday to fund most DHS components, including the TSA, through Sept. 30 while excluding certain immigration enforcement funds. The House passed a separate short-term bill late Friday to fund the entire department through May 22. Lawmakers from both chambers departed for a two-week recess over the weekend, leaving the measures unresolved and the shutdown ongoing.
As of Sunday, airport security wait times remained elevated at many locations, with travelers reporting longer lines and some flight delays. TSA administrators warned of lasting impacts on staffing even after funding is restored. The agency continued to monitor operations while awaiting final congressional action on the competing funding proposals.
