Trump to sign order to 'immediately pay our TSA Agents' amid airport chaos over partial shutdown
Donald Trump is set to sign an emergency order to pay TSA agents during the partial government shutdown.
The president had been considering ways to go around Congress as the impasse hits its 41st day, while ICE agents continue to assist at the nation's airports as they face massive security lines.
Trump wrote on Truth Social media that he was doing this because the Democrats 'and their 'Leader,' Cryin' Chuck Schumer, have made it very clear where they stand, and that is, ON THE SIDE OF CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS, AND NOT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.'
The president said he was using his authority 'under the law' to push through the executive action.
'I am going to sign an Order instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation, and to quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports,' he added.
Trump said that he 'will not allow the Radical Left Democrats to hold our Country hostage any longer.'
The GOP praised their president for making the move necessary to pay the agents.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune says Trump's announcement that he will pay TSA agents 'takes the pressure off' negotiations over funding the entire DHS, but it is a 'short term solution.'
Donald Trump is set to sign an emergency order to pay TSA agents during the partial government shutdown
The president had been considering ways to go around Congress as the impasse hits its 41st day, while ICE agents continue to assist at the nation's airports as they face massive security lines
Trump and Thune spoke Thursday. It was not immediately clear whether the Senate would stay in session ahead of a two-week recess to figure out how to fund the rest of the department.
Thune said he would have more to say about next steps later Thursday evening, but senators want 'to fund everything.'
'We're going to try to fund as much of the DHS budget as we possibly can,' Thune said.
Republican Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming said that Trump is 'doing absolutely the right thing.'
Barrasso, the No. 2 Senate Republican, told reporters in the Capitol that Trump was 'showing leadership' as bipartisan negotiations over Homeland Security Department funding have stalled.
Democrats are demanding reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement before they will vote to fund the department. Negotiations have so far failed to yield an agreement.
'They're going to repurpose funds,' Barrasso said. 'He knows how to do that.'
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., also praised the president.
People wait on lines at JFK Airport to check in as the shutdown went on
'You're saving the country a lot of heartache and danger,' Graham posted on X.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for comment.
The White House and Congressional Republicans had said earlier Thursday that they were searching for a way around the legislative branch.
Some Senate Republicans had pitched to the White House that Trump declare a national emergency, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Republican senators also discussed paying TSA agents with money from the Big, Beautiful Bill passed by Congress last year, the Journal said.
Bypassing Congress was discussed at a private lunch Thursday, the Washington Post reported, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune sharing plans.
The Department of Homeland Security hasn't been funded in 41 days after Democrats and Republicans came to an impasse over Immigration and Customs Enforcement funding in the aftermath of border agents killing two Americans.
Democrats have refused to agree to a deal that doesn't rein ICE in.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune says Trump's announcement that he will pay TSA agents 'takes the pressure off' negotiations over funding the entire DHS, but it is a 'short term solution'
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (pictured right) told reporters in the Capitol that Trump was 'showing leadership' as bipartisan negotiations over Homeland Security Department funding have stalled
Republicans have refused to fund DHS with the exception of ICE - which would allow TSA workers to get their paychecks.
Earlier this week, Trump tried to tie DHS funding legislation to getting his Save America Act across the line, which requires proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Schumer had blasted Trump for trying to 'sabotage negotiations.'
As the partial shutdown dragged on, airport chaos ramped up, with Trump deploying ICE agents to airports around the country.
On Wednesday, the White House rejected Elon Musk's $250 million offer to cover TSA workers' salaries.
'I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country,' Musk, the world's richest man, posted on X Monday.
But the offer was rejected by the White House on Wednesday despite Trump earlier stating he 'loved' the proposal.
'We greatly appreciate Elon's generous offer,' White House Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told the Daily Mail in a statement. 'This would pose great legal challenges due to his involvement with federal government contracts.'
'The fastest way to ensure TSA employees - and all DHS employees - get paid is for Democrats to fund the Department of Homeland Security.'
Officials seriously considered Musk's offer but were also concerned it could represent a conflict of interest.
If Musk did pay the TSA workers' salaries, there could be legal challenges due to the Tesla and SpaceX executive's many government contracts.
