As Democrats continue to show they are willing to hurt as many Americans as possible and with impunity because they think it might get them a smidge more political power, President Trump has shown he’s got no more appetite for it.
The president announced on Truth Social that he would sign an order directing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin to ensure that Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers receive payment.
Following this, the Senate passed a DHS funding measure through a voice vote in the early hours of the morning. This measure includes a carveout for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and certain parts of Customs and Border Protection (CBP). However, since the Senate bill differs from the House bill, it had to go back to the House to for consideration, where House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) expressed his disdain for being left out of the negotiations and promptly tossed the Senate bill in the trash bin, where it belongs.
Trump’s order and memorandum start by providing some context, highlighting the Democrats’ involvement in initiating and prolonging the partial shutdown:
As the Democrat-caused shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues well into its sixth week, America’s air travel system has reached its breaking point. This is an unprecedented emergency situation. Currently, more than 60,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees, including approximately 50,000 transportation security officers who perform security functions at domestic airports, are not being paid due to congressional Democrats’ reckless decision to prioritize criminal illegal aliens over American citizens and shut down DHS until their demand to prohibit enforcement of Federal immigration law is met.
Since the shutdown began, nearly 500 transportation security officers have left their positions, and thousands more have begun to call out sick at record rates due to lack of pay. As a result, security wait times at some airports have reached untenable lengths of three or more hours. These increased wait times, combined with declining morale among TSA staff, unacceptably heighten the risk of security vulnerabilities within our domestic travel system and has negatively impacted countless Americans.
He then set the basis for his order:
If Democrats in the Congress will not act to honor the service of our TSA officers, who are now performing their critical public safety responsibilities without knowing whether they will be able to buy food for their families or pay their rent, then my Administration will take action. As President of the United States, I have determined that these circumstances constitute an emergency situation compromising the Nation’s security.
He then instructs the DHS Secretary to work with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director to ensure that TSA employees receive their pay:
Accordingly, I hereby direct the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, to use funds that have a reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations to provide TSA employees with the compensation and benefits that would have accrued to them if not for the Democrat-led DHS shutdown, consistent with applicable law, including 31 U.S.C. 1301(a).
Once regular funding for TSA has been restored, every effort should be made, as authorized by law, to adjust applicable funding accounts within DHS to ensure the continuation of DHS operations and activities consistent with planned expenditures prior to the lapse.
Meanwhile, Johnson confirmed in an interview with Salem Radio guy and CNN contributor Scott Jennings that OMB is processing TSA paychecks at present: