Transportation Security Administration employees are finally receiving a paycheck after the partial government shutdown in February, 60,000 employees have been working without pay since the beginning of this shutdown. The Big Beautiful Bill Act did not reserve money for the TSA or airport screening.

 President Donald Trump directed the Department of Homeland Security to  “use funds that have a reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations” (Federal News Network) stated. Which means that Trump wants to use already existing funds to pay employees, instead of a new approach Trump has already cut fifty-two million dollars from TSA’s budget. 

By many TSA workers not receiving pay for so long it has left lots of damages such as struggling to catch up on bills, and unable to fund simple necessities. Some TSA Workers have even stopped going to work since there was no result in pay . TSA Worker Angela Grana explains that ‘It’s been devastating. It’s been a constant battle with trying to stay alive financially and trying to keep a nice face on for when the passenger comes up to greet you.”

Although some workers received two full paychecks that were supposed to make up for this financial gap, some workers claimed to only receive partial paychecks and are still waiting for a third paycheck.

Moving forward as TSA workers are still waiting on receiving a paycheck, President Donald Trump is proposing to cut 9,400 workers and 1.5$ billion from the agency’s budget including 2,462 Transportation Security Officer (TSO) positions. These employee cuts would save more than 500$ million except it would cause DHS to pay all the remaining amount of money to the TSA’s employees.