Trump Signs Order Saying TSA Agents Must Be Paid
Summary
- Expects a House vote tonight, possibly around 10:30 PM, to fund the government through May 22 using a self-executing rule.
- President Trump's executive order to pay TSA agents with discretionary funds has relieved a key pressure point in negotiations, reducing airport line risks.
- The Senate bill sent over lacks funding for ICE and Border Patrol (CBP) staffing, reducing their budgets to $0, while the House version affirmatively funds these agencies.
- Emphasizes that border security is a priority post-2024 election, and Americans do not want border agents unpaid or the border unmonitored.
- Believes cooler heads will prevail with the temporary TSA funding and extended deadline, viewing this as a "hiccup" rather than a crisis.
- On Iran, supports Trump's actions, stating Iran is the largest sponsor of terror and has been a problem for decades; necessary to prevent nuclear threats.
- Acknowledges higher gas prices due to geopolitical tensions but is confident prices will be temporary, citing drops in Trump's first term.
- Notes that the executive branch gets a "gold star" for addressing TSA payments, which mitigates immediate public pressure.
- Hopes the Senate will reconsider the House bill on Monday via unanimous consent but doubts it due to Democratic resistance.
- Highlights that previous funding bills had money for border infrastructure but not for staffing, a critical gap in the Senate proposal.
