Trump Declares National Emergency, Signs Order to Pay TSA Workers After Congress Fails to End DHS Shutdown

President Trump signed an executive action on March 27, 2026, declaring a national emergency to authorize payment for Transportation Security Administration employees who had been working without pay during a prolonged Department of Homeland Security shutdown. Trump stated that "America's air travel system has reached its breaking point" and characterized the situation as an emergency compromising national security. The order bypassed Congressional funding processes after a Senate-passed DHS funding compromise collapsed in the House, leaving TSA workers due to miss their second consecutive paycheck. The administration indicated funds with a "reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations" would be used, with TSA officers expected to receive paychecks by Monday, March 30. This unilateral action gave the Republican-controlled Congress cover to leave for their two-week spring break without reaching a bipartisan compromise. The action raised constitutional questions about using emergenc...

"America's air travel system has reached its breaking point" — Trump's justification for declaring a national emergency to bypass Congressional appropriations authority