Trump's Pay Order: TSA Officers Get Full Paychecks

0:00It's March 28th. This is Durham News today, your AI-powered local news. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday to get transportation security administration officers their first full paychecks in more than six weeks, possibly as early as Monday. The order directs the Homeland Security Secretary to release the funds right away after a partial government shutdown left around 50,000 TSA. Workers unpaid since February 14th. The shutdown stems from a congressional standoff over funding for Department of Homeland Security operations, including immigration enforcement. Without pay, many officers called out sick or skip shifts, leading to hours-long security lines and closed lanes at major airports like those in. Houston, Atlanta, and New York. Travel experts and union leaders express cautious optimism, but warn that massive lines won't clear up overnight. Customs must now evaluate staffing levels, and with spring breaks, Passover, and Easter

1:01approaching, passenger volumes could strain things further as. Workers catch up on bills and regain confidence and steady pay. Nearly 500 TSA officers have quit since mid-February, matching typical turnover, but hiring new ones takes four to six months of training, amid the disruptions. Funding for the paychecks pulls from a prior tax cut bill that boosted Homeland Security dollars, keeping some other agencies operational. While this brings immediate relief, a lasting fix depends on Congress bridging the funding gap soon, allowing airports to fully reopen checkpoints and travelists to move through security with less hassle.