White House seeks ways to pay airport security agents, unpaid since mid-Feb in Hill funding dispute

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed reports Thursday that the Trump administration is considering ways to pay Transportation Security Administration workers while waiting for federal funding from Congress.

The confirmation comes as airports nationwide are experiencing a TSA staffing shortage because the larger federal agency for which they work – the Department of Homeland Security – has been shuttered since Feb. 14 because of a partisan Capitol Hill funding standoff. 

Over 450 TSA workers have so far reportedly quit since the shutdown began.

President Donald Trump said earlier Thursday that he would have to take "some very drastic measures" if the shutdown does not end soon, according to CBS News. The Wall Street Journal has reported that GOP senators are urging the president to declare a national emergency to free up money to pay the TSA workers.

"It is true that the White House is having discussions about a number of ideas to blunt the impact of the Democrat shutdown crisis, but no preparations or plans are currently underway," Leavitt told CBS News. "The best and easiest way to pay TSA agents is to fund DHS." 

The comment also comes the same day the House passed its third Homeland Security funding legislation, though it is still unlikely to pass the Senate.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.