Washington, D.C. — Amid a growing crisis at U.S. airports, President Donald Trump announced he will sign an executive order to “immediately pay” Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents, while the Senate approved partial funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The president’s announcement, calling the situation a “national emergency” at airports, came alongside a rare Senate session that partially broke the government shutdown affecting DHS.

The executive order aims to guarantee pay for more than 50,000 airport security workers who have gone weeks without a paycheck due to the congressional budget impasse, which has caused resignations, widespread absences, and record-long security lines.

Senate Moves Forward, But Dispute Continues

At the same time, the U.S. Senate passed an overnight funding package covering TSA and most DHS agencies, in the midst of the partial government shutdown.

The measure, approved unanimously, excludes funding for key immigration enforcement operations such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and part of the Border Patrol, which remain the main point of political contention.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the agreement would allow much of federal operations to resume while negotiations continue.

The partial DHS shutdown, in effect since February, has severely impacted the U.S. airport system. Hundreds of agents have resigned, and wait times have reached historic levels, with travelers missing flights nationwide.

When Will TSA Employees Get Paid?

Although President Trump has ordered “immediate” payment for TSA agents, in federal administrative terms this does not mean a same-day deposit. If the order is implemented quickly and without additional obstacles, paychecks could begin processing within 24 to 72 hours. However, if payment depends on the full approval process—including final congressional validation and execution by the Treasury—processing could take several days or even one to two weeks.

The key factor is not only political, but also operational. The federal system must reprocess backlogged payrolls, reactivate payment mechanisms, and restore staffing levels, in a context already affected by absences and resignations. Even with the order in place, full normalization of payments may not be immediate, reflecting the administrative complexity behind the crisis.