Trump thanks TSA agents working with no pay amid government shutdown

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President Trump thanked TSA agents for going to enactment but "not being paid" amid an ongoing partial authorities shutdown, which has seen agents quitting and absences doubling.

Mr. Trump blamed the extremist near successful a societal media post Saturday for refusing "to grant the woody that was approved and voted connected successful Congress." He directed portions of the station to TSA agents and said, "Keep warring for the USA. GO TO WORK! I committedness that I volition ne'er hide you!!!

His station comes hours aft the archetypal afloat missed paycheck for TSA agents was expected Friday.

Roughly 50,000 proscription information officers are required to enactment without wage during the Department of Homeland Security backing lapse, which began connected February 14. CBS News reported unscheduled absences among airdrome information officers person much than doubled since then, with much than 300 employees leaving the agency.

DHS officials interest that the longer the shutdown lasts, the greater the hazard that much TSA employees volition leave, worsening staffing shortages beyond the contiguous crisis.

"Our kids, our families, houses — everything is astatine involvement astatine this moment," 1 officer told CBS News Atlanta. "We are virtually drowning successful silence, and the satellite doesn't adjacent cognize it."

Dozens of airports astir the state person reported agelong lines astatine security. The TSA temporarily closed one security checkpoint astatine Philadelphia International Airport connected Thursday. There were long lines reported astatine Houston Hobby and New Orleans airports last weekend.

In immoderate cases, the strain has led to frustrations: Federal prosecutors charged a California antheral who allegedly became convulsive earlier successful the week at Dallas Love Field airport.

Idress Vinay Solomon, 33, of Oakland, is accused of assaulting a national officer, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas. Solomon allegedly punched TSA and Dallas constabulary officers after failing an individuality cheque astatine the information checkpoint.

"Violent behaviour perpetrated against TSA and instrumentality enforcement officers volition ne'er beryllium tolerated successful the Northern District of Texas," said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. "We volition prosecute specified offenses to the fullest grade to question justness for the victims present and to deter others from resorting to assertive attacks against officers liable for ensuring the public's information portion traveling."

Nicole Sganga contributed to this report.

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