Story perspectives

DHS Shutdown Hits Record 46 Days, TSA Staffing Crisis Grows

4/1/2026

Summary

Trump Addresses TSA Crisis

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown has lasted 46 days, longest in history.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to back-pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees.
Most TSA workers received paychecks for two pay periods, but some amounts were incorrect.
Over 500 TSA agents have quit due to unpaid wages, worsening staffing and delays, as Congress remains divided with House Republicans rejecting a bipartisan Senate funding proposal.

Summary

Lawmakers Face Backlash

The Department of Homeland Security shutdown reaches its 46th day.
Lawmakers face backlash for vacationing while TSA workers quit due to unpaid wages.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was spotted at Disney World defending his trip after a meeting about U.S.–Saudi relations.
Representative Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) was seen at a Las Vegas casino visiting family.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt urged Congress to return and resolve funding crisis.

History

Historical Context

The U.S. government shutdown from December 1995 to January 1996 lasted 21 days due to budget disputes between President Bill Clinton and a Republican Congress, furloughing about 800,000 federal employees. This historical precedent echoes in the current 46-day Department of Homeland Security shutdown, which highlights ongoing challenges in bipartisan cooperation and its implications for federal workforce stability.

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Trump Addresses TSA Crisis

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown has lasted 46 days, longest in history.
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to back-pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees.
Most TSA workers received paychecks for two pay periods, but some amounts were incorrect.
Over 500 TSA agents have quit due to unpaid wages, worsening staffing and delays, as Congress remains divided with House Republicans rejecting a bipartisan Senate funding proposal.

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