President Donald Trump said he will sign an executive order aimed at ensuring Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers continue to receive pay during the ongoing partial government shutdown, a move the White House says is intended to reduce airport disruptions as staffing strains mount.
- Action announced: Trump said he will sign an executive order to get TSA staff paid during the shutdown, according to Bloomberg Markets.
- Who it affects: TSA officers working at U.S. airports during the shutdown period.
- Why now: The administration is seeking to limit airport delays and operational disruptions tied to shutdown-related staffing and morale issues, Bloomberg reported.
- Shutdown status: The order comes amid a partial government shutdown, with House Republicans resisting passage of a Senate bill that would reopen the government, according to Bloomberg.
- Pay issue at the center: During shutdowns, many TSA employees are considered “excepted” and may be required to work even when pay is delayed until funding is restored; the executive action is intended to address that gap, per Bloomberg’s reporting.
Brief context
The TSA is part of the Department of Homeland Security and is responsible for passenger and baggage screening at U.S. airports. In a shutdown, agencies typically divide employees into those who are furloughed (not working) and those who are excepted (working to protect life and property). Bloomberg reported Trump’s order is designed to keep TSA officers paid while the shutdown continues, as the administration seeks to prevent airport disruptions.
The announcement lands as lawmakers remain deadlocked on reopening the government. Bloomberg reported House Republicans are resisting a Senate-passed measure to restore funding, prolonging uncertainty for federal workers and contractors affected by the lapse.
For federal employees and service members traveling for official duty, disruptions at checkpoints can ripple into missed flights, delayed temporary duty travel, and downstream impacts on mission schedules. TSA staffing and morale issues during shutdowns have previously been a pressure point for airport operations, and the administration is framing the executive order as a step to stabilize screening operations.
What it means for you
- If you’re a TSA employee: The order, as described by Bloomberg, is intended to ensure continued pay during the shutdown. Implementation details—such as timing, eligibility, and how payments would be processed—were not provided in the Bloomberg segment.
- If you’re a federal traveler (TDY/PCS): The administration’s stated goal is to reduce airport disruptions, which could affect wait times and flight reliability.
- If you’re a furloughed or excepted federal worker outside TSA: This action is TSA-specific as described by Bloomberg; it does not automatically change shutdown pay rules for other agencies.
Source: Bloomberg Markets (video), March 27, 2026: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2026-03-27/trump-to-sign-order-to-get-tsa-staff-paid-video