Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Mar 27: US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that he will sign an order to ensure payment for officers of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), who have missed paychecks due to a funding lapse at the Department of Homeland Security.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he would direct newly sworn-in Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to “immediately pay our TSA Agents” to address what he termed an emergency situation.

The announcement comes after TSA officers missed their first full paychecks in mid-March, triggering a spike in absenteeism. Officials said callout rates have crossed 11% nationwide, with some airports reporting rates above 40%, leading to long queues and delays of over four hours.

To manage the situation, the administration earlier deployed agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to assist airport security operations. Unlike TSA personnel, ICE agents have continued receiving salaries due to separate funding provisions.

The White House has not yet clarified the source of funds for the payments or the duration of the proposed relief.

The development highlights the operational challenges arising from the partial funding lapse at the Department of Homeland Security, with airport security and passenger movement significantly affected.