Trump Signs Emergency Order to Pay TSA Agents Using One Big Beautiful Bill Funds

Trump’s move to sign an emergency order to pay TSA agents marks the single most consequential new development in the DHS funding saga: the White House intends to immediately compensate TSA workers using funds from the 2025 tax bill.

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11Alive

Sources confirm the order would draw on money from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to deliver payroll, signaling a unilateral step to quell airport chaos while Congress grids over ICE/CBP.

AJC

Various outlets describe this as a stopgap that shifts the leverage from legislative to executive action.

In parallel, the Senate advanced a package to end the DHS shutdown by funding most of the department—TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard, and CISA—while carving out Immigration and Customs Enforcement and parts of CBP.

The measure passed by unanimous consent in the early hours and now heads to the House for action, with leadership signaling it would not fund ICE/CBP and that no new enforcement restraints were included.

AP News

Analysts describe the move as a partial restoration of DHS functions, but a continuation of the political split over immigration policy.

Democrats argued the GOP package did not go far enough to curb ICE/CBP powers, insisting on guardrails such as body-worn cameras, identification requirements, and warrants for property entries before raids.

“Trump says he’ll sign order to pay TSA agents as Senate works into the night on funding deal Trump says he’ll sign order to pay TSA agents as Senate works into the night on funding deal WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday he would sign an order instructing the Homeland Security secretary to immediately pay Transportation Security Administration agents, while senators worked late into the night trying to end a budget impasse that has jammed airports and left workers without paychecks”

AP News

Republicans balked at broader restraints, while some GOP voices warned that tying DHS funding to enforcement reforms could jeopardize any agreement, pointing to internal splits in the party as negotiators push for a separate, party-line funding bill for ICE/CBP.

Looking ahead, the House faces a delicate path: leadership has signaled a vote could come Friday, but many representatives remain uneasy about approving ICE/CBP funding without durable reforms.

Reports show Republicans hoping to advance a broader reconciliation package later, while Democrats insist on enforceable guardrails before any ICE/CBP funds flow.

Associated Press

The timing remains tight as lawmakers depart for an Easter recess, leaving airport travelers faces with continued uncertainty about long waits and potential disruptions.