Gallego Proposes Bonus for Furloughed DHS Workers

0:00On March 25, Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego has proposed a bill to give a 10% bonus to Department of Homeland Security workers who keep, showing up during the government shutdown without pay. The one-time payment would go out no later than one day after funding returns, targeting frontline staff like Transportation Security Administration officers. This bonus would not cover any mispaychecks, and it excludes some immigration and customs enforcement workers whose pay was already protected by earlier laws. Gallego highlighted how these employees have stayed on the job for weeks to keep things running smoothly. Workers are feeling the pinch hard, with many already missing one paycheck and facing another soon. Acting TSA head Hubein Gawadia McNeil told Congress that absenteeism has hit 40-50% at some airports, leading to longer security lines. In peak spring travel, to ease the chaos, President Trump sent ICE officers to hell at 14 airports.

1:00Meanwhile, Elon Musk floated the idea of personally covering TSA paychecks, though no firm plans have emerged. The shutdown drags on over immigration policy fights, with both parties digging in, but the pressure is mounting to get these essential workers the support they need.