Administration discusses potential workaround as shutdown leaves 50,000 officers unpaid and airports under strain.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The White House is exploring options to ensure Transportation Security Administration officers receive paychecks during the ongoing Department of Homeland Security funding impasse, according to reporting by The Washington Post.
The discussions center on whether the administration could take unilateral action to compensate TSA personnel if the Senate fails to reach an agreement to fund DHS.
The partial government shutdown, which began Feb. 14, has required approximately 50,000 TSA officers to continue working without pay. The situation has contributed to operational challenges at airports nationwide, including extended wait times and disruptions to passenger screening.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., discussed the potential approach with Republican senators during a closed-door meeting, according to the report.
When asked about the proposal, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that discussions are underway but emphasized that no decision has been made.
“It is true the White House is having discussions about a number of ideas to blunt the impact” of the shutdown, Leavitt said, adding that “no preparations or plans are currently underway.”
The consideration of executive action reflects mounting pressure on lawmakers to resolve the funding stalemate, as federal employees continue to work without compensation and agencies face increasing strain.
Officials have not detailed how such a plan would be implemented or whether it would face legal or logistical challenges, leaving its viability uncertain as negotiations in Congress continue.
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