Record Number of T.S.A. Employees Called Out on Friday

New York Times
by Chris Hippensteel, Sonia A. Rao and JoAnna Daemmrich
March 29, 2026
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Trump restored TSA pay after record employee absences disrupted airport security screening nationwide.

How This Affects You

Airport security delays may decrease as TSA staffing stabilizes, reducing wait times for your flights and improving checkpoint efficiency.

AI Summary

President Trump signed a memo Friday directing the Department of Homeland Security to restore pay to airport screeners, following a record number of T.S.A. employees calling out that day. The action appeared to address a staffing crisis at security checkpoints, where screeners had faced pay cuts or other compensation issues. Airport security screening is essential to the nation's transportation infrastructure, and widespread absences can create bottlenecks and safety concerns at major hubs. The memo signals the Trump administration's effort to resolve labor tensions within the federal workforce overseeing airport security. The directive now moves to D.H.S. for implementation, though details on the scope and timeline of pay restoration were not immediately specified.

What's Being Done

President Trump signed a memo directing the Department of Homeland Security to restore pay to airport screeners; the directive now moves to DHS for implementation.

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