TSA officers miss first full paycheck as DHS funding lapse continues
Mar 13th 2026
About 61,000 TSA officers have been working without pay since mid-February and will miss their first full paycheck amid spring break travel, rising absences, and growing financial strain.
- About 61,000 TSA employees have been required to work without pay since DHS funding lapsed in mid-February.
- Workers will miss their first full paycheck this week but are guaranteed back pay once the shutdown ends under a 2019 law.
- TSA employees earn about $35,000 on average and many say they live paycheck to paycheck.
- Increased absences and stricter sick-note rules have contributed to longer security lines during the spring travel surge.
- Many workers are borrowing money, tapping retirement savings, and receiving food and gift card donations from airports and community groups.
- DHS briefly moved to close TSA PreCheck and did close Global Entry, causing processing disruptions before some services were restored, while lawmakers and the White House traded blame over funding talks.