President Donald J. Trump issued a memorandum March 27 directing action to compensate Transportation Security Administration employees during the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
The directive orders federal officials to use available funds to provide pay and benefits to TSA workers affected by the lapse in funding.
The memorandum states that more than 60,000 TSA employees have gone without pay during the shutdown, including about 50,000 officers working at airports.
It also cites staffing impacts, including hundreds of employees leaving their jobs and increased sick call rates.
The order instructs the Secretary of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Office of Management and Budget, to allocate funds tied to TSA operations to cover employee compensation, consistent with federal law.
The memorandum describes the situation as an emergency affecting national security and air travel operations.
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