Trump Signs Memorandum for TSA Workers Amid DHS Shutdown

On Friday, President Trump authorized a memorandum aimed at providing compensation to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees, as long lines at airport checkpoints continue to grow. This situation follows a shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) led by Democrats.

The memorandum requested DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought to redirect funds that can logically support TSA operations, ensuring that employees receive the pay and benefits they would normally have if it weren’t for the shutdown. This is all within legal constraints, of course.

Moreover, it stated, “Once regular funding for TSA is reinstated, every effort should be made to adjust the relevant funding accounts within DHS, in line with pre-expiration plan expenditures, as permitted by law.”

The impasse appears rooted in Democrats refusing to fund DHS without conditions on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This deadlock led to some concessions from Senate Republicans, prompting Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to celebrate what he perceived as a victory.

“After weeks of negotiations, Republicans have caved in to our demands to fund DHS without blank checks to ICE and CBP,” Schumer noted in a post on social media.

Nevertheless, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) is advocating for a straightforward 60-day continuing resolution to replace a Senate bill that had received unanimous approval.

Johnson cautioned Senate Republicans to support the bill, which would affect funding for ICE or Customs and Border Protection.

He criticized the previous night’s maneuver as “a joke,” expressing doubt that all Senate Republicans fully understood the bill’s language. “We’re not doing that,” he declared. “It’s hard to believe that Democrats would try to impose negotiations at 3 a.m. and then fly home for the holidays as if everything is fine. We cannot abide by it,” he continued.

In response, President Trump renewed his call for Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster. This change would allow the bill to pass with a simple majority, rather than requiring 60 votes.

He urged, “Republicans should cancel the filibuster and vote! Are you tired of the radical left trying to undermine our country? Make America great again!”