The President of the United States, Donald Trump, declared a national emergency in the country's airports amidst the growing chaos caused by the partial shutdown of the federal government, a crisis that has left thousands of security agents without pay and has disrupted security checks at airport terminals.
The leader announced that he will sign an executive order instructing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to “immediately pay” the agents of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), a key player in airport security screenings.
“Given that the Democrats have recklessly created a true national crisis, I am using my legal powers to protect our great country,” Trump wrote on his platform Truth Social.
"Therefore, I am going to sign an order... to immediately pay our TSA agents in order to address this emergency situation," he added.
The decision comes after 41 days of partial government shutdown, which has directly impacted DHS funding, leaving approximately 50,000 TSA workers unpaid since mid-February.
Collapsed airports and fleeing staff
The lack of payment has caused an unprecedented operational crisis at U.S. airports. Images released by local media show long lines lasting several hours at security checks, right in the middle of the peak travel season for spring break.
The impact has also been reflected in the staff: nearly 500 agents have resigned from their positions, while absenteeism continues to rise due to the lack of salaries.
The TSA itself has warned that it may be forced to close small airports if the situation continues.
“These long lines and the thousands of Americans who missed their flights were solely caused by the irresponsible closure of the Department of Homeland Security (…) by the Democrats,” stated Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin.
The official also urged Congress to act: “Stop playing political games with our national security.”
An executive order in uncertain territory
Trump insisted that he will invoke his emergency powers to ensure immediate payment to the agents, although the measure raises legal questions, as the Constitution grants Congress the authority to authorize public spending.
“It's not an easy thing to do, but I'm going to do it!”, the president assured.
From the White House, spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the executive order will directly instruct the DHS to pay TSA workers, while other officials noted that funds from legislation promoted by Trump would be used to cover those salaries.
Rachel Cauley, director of communications for the Office of Management and Budget, defended the decision by comparing it to measures taken during previous crises.
The president "has determined that the congressional Democrats have created an emergency situation that cannot be allowed to continue."
Political clash over immigration and security
The background of the crisis is the blockage in Congress regarding funding for the DHS, related to disagreements over immigration policies and the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
While the Democrats demand reforms in immigration practices – including operational restrictions and increased oversight – the Republicans accuse the opposition of jeopardizing national security.
In the midst of stagnation, the Trump administration has chosen to reinforce the presence of ICE agents at airports, even though they do not have the necessary training to fully replace TSA workers.
A system under pressure
The crisis occurs at a time of high demand for travel, with a higher passenger volume than the previous year, which has exacerbated the collapse in security checkpoints.
Despite the fact that DHS remains partially unfunded, some agencies like ICE continue to operate normally thanks to previously approved funds, which has led to criticism and questioning regarding budget management.
Without progress in negotiations in Congress, the situation at the airports continues to deteriorate, while the White House attempts to mitigate the impact through emergency measures that, for now, raise more questions than definitive solutions.
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