Trump to Sign Order Paying TSA Agents as Senate Races to End DHS Shutdown

President Trump said he will sign an executive order to ensure TSA officers receive back pay as the Senate works into the night on a deal to end the 40-day Homeland Security shutdown.

President Donald Trump announced Thursday he will sign an executive order ensuring Transportation Security Administration officers receive back pay, even as the Senate raced to finalize a deal to end the 40-day Department of Homeland Security shutdown that has left more than 50,000 screeners without two paychecks.

Speaking briefly to reporters before a meeting with airline executives, Trump said he was "tired of watching these hardworking men and women struggle to feed their families while politicians play games." He said the order, which he plans to sign Friday morning, would guarantee that all TSA employees receive the pay they are owed regardless of when the shutdown ends.

But the president stopped short of saying he would force a reopening of the agency, insisting that Congress must do its job. "I'm doing what I can. But the Democrats have to come to the table. They've been stonewalling for 40 days," he said.

Behind the scenes, Senate negotiators were working into the night Thursday on a compromise that could break the impasse. The shutdown, which began Feb. 14 after Democrats refused to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement without policy changes, has grown increasingly untenable as TSA call-out rates have soared and security lines at airports have stretched for hours.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the chamber would remain in session until a deal is reached. "We are not leaving until we get this done," Thune said. "The American people deserve better than this."

The emerging framework, according to sources familiar with the talks, would provide full DHS funding through September while establishing new oversight mechanisms for ICE operations. Democrats had demanded warrants for home entries, body cameras, and restrictions on enforcement at schools and churches. Republicans have conceded on body cameras and sensitive locations but resisted warrant requirements.

Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democratic appropriator, said progress was being made but cautioned that "we're not there yet."

TSA officers have been working without pay since mid-February. More than 300 have resigned, and call-out rates have topped 30% at some major airports. The agency has consolidated checkpoints and warned travelers to expect significant delays.

As President Trump moves to guarantee back pay for TSA officers and Senate negotiators race to end the 40-day shutdown, The Silicon Review examines the human toll of the longest DHS funding lapse in history and whether a last-minute deal can restore stability to an aviation security workforce stretched to its breaking point.