TSA Pay Bill Introduced as Shutdown Leaves Agents Unpaid, Strains Airport Security

A House Republican lawmaker has introduced new legislation aimed at ensuring Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers receive paychecks during the ongoing partial government shutdown, which has created significant disruptions at airports nationwide.

Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.) unveiled a bill Monday that would establish a Transportation Security Trust Fund to support TSA operations and personnel during government funding gaps. The proposed legislation comes as TSA agents missed their first full paychecks after nearly a month of working without pay, with no immediate resolution to the shutdown in sight.

“This is now the third time in just six months that TSA agents have been forced to work without receiving a paycheck,” Langworthy told Fox News Digital. “Morale and recruitment are taking a profound hit, and we’ve already lost more than 300 agents, putting the agency’s mission at grave risk.”

The fund would be financed through the Aviation Passenger Security Fee, commonly known as the 9/11 passenger security fee, which was established following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. This fee, collected by airlines, amounts to $5.60 for one-way flights and up to $11.20 for round-trips originating in the United States, and is specifically designated for passenger security measures.

The shutdown’s impact on air travel has become increasingly evident as TSA staffing shortages have led to longer security lines and delays at airports across the country. Many TSA agents, faced with financial hardship, have called out sick or sought alternative employment to cover their expenses. Travelers in Louisiana, Texas, and other regions have been advised to arrive hours earlier than normal for their flights to account for extended security screening times.

Weather-related disruptions along the East Coast have further compounded these delays, creating a perfect storm of travel complications for passengers.

“His bill will help ensure that our hardworking agents get paid, and that we retain the vigilant, professional workforce necessary to protect the traveling public,” Langworthy said, adding that “doing nothing is a national security crisis waiting to happen.”

The current partial shutdown specifically affects the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees not only the TSA but also the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the U.S. Secret Service, and various other critical security agencies. The rest of the federal government received funding through earlier budget agreements.

The political impasse centers on immigration policy. Democratic leaders have refused to support any spending bill that funds former President Trump’s immigration enforcement measures, while Republicans have maintained that border security must be addressed. Multiple compromise offers from the White House have reportedly been rejected.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) announced Monday that Democrats would attempt to force a vote on funding all DHS components except immigration-related agencies—a proposal unlikely to gain traction with Republicans.

The stakes in this standoff have heightened amid recent U.S. and Israeli military operations in Iran, which have elevated domestic security concerns. Security experts worry that the combination of reduced TSA staffing and increased threat levels creates vulnerability in the nation’s transportation infrastructure.

While TSA agents will eventually receive back pay once the shutdown ends, the immediate financial strain has created significant hardship for many federal employees who must continue reporting to work without knowing when their next paycheck will arrive.

Langworthy’s legislation represents one potential solution to address the immediate crisis facing TSA workers, though its prospects for passage remain uncertain as the broader political dispute over DHS funding continues without a clear path to resolution.