White House Says Funds To Pay TSA, Other Homeland Security Workers Will ‘Soon Run Out’

The White House has warned Congress that funding used to pay employees of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) , including airport security staff, is close to running out, intensifying concerns over potential airport disruptions and national security risks across the United States.

In a renewed memo issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) , officials said emergency funds being used to sustain payrolls through executive actions by President Donald Trump are expected to be exhausted by May. The warning comes as lawmakers remain deadlocked over broader funding legislation.

The administration urged the House of Representatives (House) to quickly approve a Senate-passed budget resolution , which would trigger a multi-step reconciliation process to restore full DHS funding. Officials cautioned that further delays or amendments could prolong the crisis and deepen operational risks for key agencies.

The funding lapse has left DHS operating without regular appropriations for more than two months, making it the longest shutdown of its kind in U.S. history , now stretching to around 10–11 weeks (over 70 days) according to recent reports.

While the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and other frontline agencies have continued functioning through temporary funding arrangements, officials warned that these stopgap measures are rapidly depleting. Payroll costs for DHS reportedly exceed $1.6 billion every two weeks , putting mounting pressure on emergency funding reserves.

The White House also flagged growing operational strain, including reports of staff attrition among TSA officers , raising concerns over longer airport security lines and reduced efficiency if funding is not restored soon. Some lawmakers and analysts have warned that continued delays could directly affect airport operations, border security, and emergency response readiness.

The political impasse stems from disagreements between Republicans and Democrats over immigration enforcement funding. The Senate has already approved a bipartisan funding framework for most DHS agencies, but the House has delayed passage , citing disputes over provisions related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol.

Republicans are pursuing a reconciliation strategy to pass immigration-related funding separately, but that process could take weeks and still requires further legislative steps. Recent Senate action approved a $70 billion budget resolution to begin that process, but the House has yet to fully align, keeping DHS funding in limbo.