Confusion surrounds Trump effort to pay TSA, DHS; some could see last paycheck Friday

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is warning its employees that Friday’s paycheck could be their last until Congress acts to fund the department and end the record-long partial shutdown — but questions remain over whether that warning extends to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers.

TSA employees last week began receiving back pay after President Trump signed a March 27 executive order directing the DHS to find funds to compensate them for their unpaid work since the shutdown began Feb. 14.

The TSA workers have been a critical factor in the shutdown negotiations. When thousands of TSA workers called out during the shutdown, it led to massive lines at airports around the country. That increased pressure on lawmakers to work toward a deal to end the shutdown — at least for the TSA.

The president signed a second edict similar to the executive order affecting TSA workers a week later, this time directing the department to do the same for all DHS employees required to work without pay during the shutdown, including those in the U.S. Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

TSA workers are slated to receive another paycheck Friday — covering pay period 6, which ended April 4, as well as previously unpaid hours from earlier in........

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