President Donald Trump announced March 26 that he aims to bring the chaos at the nation’s airports to an end by signing an executive order to ensure TSA agents get paid.
"I am going to sign an Order instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation, and to quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports," the president said in a statement Thursday evening. "It is not an easy thing to do, but I am going to do it! I want to thank our hardworking TSA Agents and also, ICE, for the incredible help they have given us at the Airports."
The president’s announcement comes as a partial shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security has left airport security workers still expected to work but without pay. Many have quit or stopped showing up. As a result, long lines have snarled some of the nation’s biggest transportation hubs.
USA TODAY has reached out to the White House for information about how the president would ensure workers get paid. It's unclear what legal authority the president has over the issue.
It’s unclear when exactly Trump plans to sign the proposed order.
