Overview
- President Trump signed a memorandum directing Homeland Security Secretary Marin to pay Transportation Security Administration workers who run airport security lines.
- The directive follows disruptions at U.S. airports that grew after Department of Homeland Security funding lapsed and parts of the agency scaled back.
- Trump announced the plan on his social media account and said he would address what he called an emergency and quickly end chaos he blamed on Democrats.
- The Wall Street Journal reported the administration is weighing a national emergency declaration to let it shift public funds to salaries during the funding lapse, a rare move without an approved budget.
- The payments aim to keep screeners on the job and ease lines for travelers, though other DHS functions could still face strain until Congress restores funding.