A DHS spokesperson said in a statement that the retroactive paycheck would cover the fourth and fifth pay periods. The statement was notably partisan, thanking the president and blaming the Democratic Party for the deprivation of pay.
“TSA officers are grateful to President Trump and Secretary Mullin for their leadership to put money back into the pockets of TSA employees who worked without pay during the ongoing Democrat DHS shutdown,” the statement reads. “Working without pay forced more than 500 officers to leave TSA and thousands were forced to call out.”
The TSA noted that a “small population” might experience a “slight delay” in receiving paychecks for reasons varying from financial institution processing times to problems with direct deposit.
“We are working aggressively with USDA’s National Finance Center to complete processing for the half paycheck they are owed from pay period 3 as soon as possible,” the statement concludes.
WHITE HOUSE CALLS ON CONGRESS TO RETURN TO WASHINGTON FROM SPRING BREAK TO FUND DHS
The DHS shutdown reached a record 45 days on Monday. The shutdown has had the most visible impact on airports, as a deluge of absent TSA agents has resulted in long security lines, causing many to miss their flights.
Data obtained by Fox News show that from March 22 to 29, TSA callout rates averaged 11.34%. The highest rate occurred on Friday, at 12.35%.
