Trump orders to pay airport guards

New York. With spring break in full swing, airline passengers continued to wait in long lines at security checkpoints at major U.S. airports yesterday after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents.

Trump’s executive order directed the Department of Homeland Security to immediately pay TSA agents on Friday, although it is unclear when the effect of that measure will begin to be felt at airports or how pay will be covered, as House Republicans on Friday night rejected a bipartisan deal to temporarily fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and passed their own measure.

They have not been paid since February 14

The signing occurs at a busy time of year: spring breaks at schools and universities, and the upcoming Passover and Easter holidays. Passengers wrote on social media that the lines grew exponentially every hour.

“We have not experienced wait times like we are seeing this morning,” Baltimore-Washington International Airport posted on X Saturday. Terminal officials recommended travelers arrive four hours before scheduled departure.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said TSA staff could be paid as early as Monday. Workers who have not been paid since February 14.

Although for many that is good news, it remains to be seen if that promise comes true and if it puts an end to the huge lines at airports.

Resources for the Department of Homeland Security have been frozen since February 14, due to disagreement between Democrats and Republicans over the actions of ICE, questioned for its violent tactics against undocumented immigrants and for the death of two Americans in January.

Absenteeism and resignations of TSA agents have skyrocketed. Some airports have recorded no-shows of 40 percent.