President Donald Trump said Thursday that he plans to issue an emergency order to ensure Transportation Security Administration agents receive pay, as long security lines and delays continue to disrupt major airports across the country.

In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump sharply criticized Democrats for refusing to approve funding for the Department of Homeland Security and said he would take action to guarantee TSA workers are compensated.

“Because the Democrats have recklessly created a true National Crisis, I am using my authorities under the Law to protect our Great Country, as I always will do!” Trump said.

“I am going to sign an Order instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation, and to quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports. It is not an easy thing to do, but I am going to do it!,” he wrote.

The announcement comes as lawmakers from both parties remain deadlocked over DHS funding, leaving TSA employees without pay for a second consecutive month.

Under the National Emergency Act, the president has the authority to redirect unused federal funds to temporarily cover TSA salaries, potentially sidestepping Congress.

Although Republicans control the Senate, they do not have the 60 votes required to move DHS funding forward through the legislative process.

Democrats have withheld support for the department’s funding for several weeks as they push for stricter limitations on immigration enforcement policies.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Thursday that he had presented Democrats with his “final” proposal, which would fund most of DHS while excluding the portion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement responsible for enforcement and deportation activities, in an effort to win Democratic backing.

Meanwhile, many TSA employees have been calling out sick in protest over missed paychecks, contributing to extended wait times and significant congestion at airport security checkpoints nationwide.

{Matzav.com}