ORLANDO, Fla. — Transportation Security Administration employees may finally start seeing some financial relief soon after going 44 days without pay during the partial government shutdown.

An executive order issued by President Donald Trump would pave the way for the Department of Homeland Security to pay TSA employees starting Monday, since they have been working without pay for weeks.

What You Need To Know

An executive order issued by President Donald Trump instructs the Department of Homeland Security to pay TSA workers starting Monday
TSA workers have been working unpaid for weeks during the partial government shutdown, which contributed to longer-than-usual wait times at some of the nation’s major airports
TSA workers union president Joseph Groover said he is cautiously optimistic about Trump’s executive order

In a statement issued on Friday, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said payments would start going out on Monday.

Trump’s executive order comes after multiple TSA employee walkouts and weeks of longer-than-usual wait times at major airports across the country.

While the deal is promising, Local 556 AFGE Vice President Joseph Groover said he — and the TSA employees the union represents — is cautiously optimistic because no one knows how long it will last.

“Definitely relieved,” Groover said, noting that working without pay also affected TSA workers’ mental health. “People all around are just hoping that it’s finally over — though for how long is undetermined at the moment. But hopefully this is a lasting thing, and we don’t have to deal with anymore shutdowns.”

Groover’s is a sentiment also shared by Vero Beach resident Charles Flournoy, who was traveling at Orlando International Airport Monday morning.

“I think it’s going to be a real interesting political battle, because doing this with executive order, I don’t know if that’s going to pass,” Flournoy said. “But I think it’s important that these guys get paid.”

State lawmakers’ reactions were mixed when Trump’s executive order was issued Friday.

On one hand are Republican lawmakers like U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Fla. 8th District, who argued in favor of funding all of DHS in the interest of national security.

“I’ve been voting over and over, I think now five times, to fully fund DHS …that includes border security and it includes what’s called ICE,” he said. “Because, as you know, 10 million people have entered this country illegally during the Biden years.”

U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla. 10th District, however, accused Republicans on X of prioritizing funding ICE instead of putting an end to the shutdown.

“As you see the long lines at the airport, as you hear the heartbreaking stories from TSA workers not getting paid, as you hear about FEMA not being funded, just think, who’s running the federal government?” Frost’s post said. “Who’s running all of the House of Representatives, the Senate and the White House? Republicans are.”