DHS warns TSA pay funds will run out by May, raising risk of airport delays

WASHINGTON, DC: The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has warned it could run out of funds to pay airport security workers within weeks, raising concerns about renewed disruptions at airports nationwide.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said emergency funds used to cover payroll during the ongoing partial shutdown are nearly exhausted.

The situation follows months of financial uncertainty that have already affected Transportation Security Administration (TSA) operations.

Officials say the funding gap could lead to staffing shortages and longer security lines as early as May.

DHS warns payroll funds nearly exhausted

Speaking on 'Fox and Friends', Secretary Mullin said the agency’s ability to continue paying employees is limited by available funds. 

“That money is dried up if I continue down this path the first week of May, because my payroll at DHS is just over $1.6 billion every two weeks,” Mullin said.

He added that after the next scheduled paycheck, “there is no more emergency fund, so the president can’t do another executive order for us to use money, because there’s no more money there.”

The department has been relying on a $10 billion emergency fund created under the Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” to sustain payroll during the shutdown.

According to Office of Management and Budget data, less than $1.4 billion remained in the fund as of April 19.

President Donald Trump had previously directed DHS to use these funds in late March to compensate TSA officers and other employees who had gone without pay for several weeks.

Workers are expected to receive their next paycheck at the end of this week, though uncertainty remains about payments beyond that point.

While some DHS employees received back pay earlier this month, questions persist over whether all staff will be compensated moving forward.

A memo circulated in early April advised certain employees not to submit time cards for the upcoming pay period until further guidance is issued.

DHS has not publicly clarified whether those workers will receive payment.

Airport disruptions and political standoff continue

The funding shortfall comes after significant operational disruptions earlier this year.

During the partial shutdown, TSA officers missed paychecks for several weeks, leading to increased absenteeism and extended security wait times at major airports.

In March, some lines exceeded four hours, marking the longest delays in the agency’s nearly 25-year history.

The financial strain has also affected staffing levels.

More than 838 TSA officers have left their positions since mid-February, according to agency data, citing challenges in meeting basic expenses such as housing, food, and childcare during the pay lapse.

Industry leaders and labor representatives have urged Congress to act quickly.

The National president of the American Federation of Government Employees, Everett Kelley, warned lawmakers of the consequences if funding is not approved.

“Failure to pass this bipartisan compromise before Friday, April 24 guarantees that Transportation Security Officers, civilian Coast Guard employees, and FEMA professionals will go unpaid unless the administration steps in, as it did last month,” Kelley wrote in a letter to House lawmakers.

As negotiations continue, officials warn that failure to reach an agreement could once again disrupt airport operations and affect millions of travelers in the weeks ahead.