President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he will sign an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to pay Transportation Security Administration agents despite an ongoing partial government shutdown. He accused Democrats of prioritizing immigrants over Americans and holding the country hostage. Negotiations over DHS funding remain stalled, with both parties rejecting each other's proposals.
President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that he would issue an order to newly sworn-in Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to immediately pay TSA agents, addressing disruptions at airports caused by the shutdown. In posts on Truth Social, Trump blamed Senate Democrats and their leader, Chuck Schumer, for refusing to fund immigration enforcement unless Republicans accept open border policies. 'The Radical Left Democrats... have made it very clear where they stand, and that is, ON THE SIDE OF CRIMINAL ILLEGAL ALIENS, AND NOT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE,' Trump wrote. He claimed Democrats allowed 25 million unvetted entrants from prisons and asylums in prior years and vowed, 'I will not allow the Radical Left Democrats to hold our Country hostage any longer.' Trump thanked TSA agents and ICE for their work at airports, where ICE has been deployed amid high TSA callouts due to unpaid workers. The shutdown also affects the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies. Senate Majority Leader John Thune described Democrats' latest counteroffer as unrealistic, noting ongoing disputes over ICE funding for Enforcement and Removal Operations, judicial warrants for arrests, and a ban on masks for agents. 'Warrants and masks have never been on the table,' Thune told reporters. A White House official called Democrats' demands 'laughable,' saying the administration has negotiated in good faith. Schumer urged Trump to pay TSA workers and remove ICE from airports, posting on Tuesday, 'ICE needs to leave the airports NOW. Trump needs to pay TSA workers NOW.' Trump also called for Republicans to terminate the Senate filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act and resolve airport issues. White House Border Czar Tom Homan participated in bipartisan talks last week.
