Security lines at U.S. airports have thinned after President Trump issued an order to retroactively pay TSA officers who missed more than six weeks of wages during the partial government shutdown. The executive action covers the mid‑April payroll, but uncertainty lingers over future paychecks as Congress remains deadlocked and has yet to approve a new budget for the Department of Homeland Security.

The agency has already logged nearly $1 billion in missed payroll, with employees working 87 days without pay this fiscal year. Since February, more than 500 officers quit, adding to the 1,110 departures recorded during the October‑November shutdown. Call‑out rates have surged to 12 percent nationally, spiking to 40 percent at hubs such as Atlanta and Houston, threatening capacity as the World Cup approaches.

Airlines and travelers face heightened risk of delays once the tournament kicks off on June 11, because the TSA cannot train replacements fast enough; a full onboarding cycle takes four to six months. Lawmakers are debating the TSA Pay Act, which would fund salaries from a dedicated security trust, but until legislation passes, staffing shortages could erode passenger confidence and squeeze airport revenues.