The partial US government shutdown has become the longest in American history, as lawmakers in Washington continue to fight over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
On Sunday, the shutdown reached 44 days, surpassing the previous longest funding lapse, which ended in November 2025.
The current impasse has led to chaos at airports, due to a shortage of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers at security checkpoints as they go without pay cheques.
White House border czar Tom Homan stated on Sunday that TSA agents should start receiving pay early next week after President Donald Trump signed an order attempting to free up cash.
However, it is unclear whether Trump's executive order will face legal challenges, as the US constitution mandates Congress to authorize spending for the federal government.
Trump, while on Air Force One on Sunday evening, expressed his commitment to ensuring TSA agents are compensated but stressed the need for Congress to pass a funding bill.
Homan also mentioned that following the end of the shutdown and the restoration of funding for TSA, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents deployed at airports to mitigate travel disruptions would remain in place until the situation is fully stabilized.
Congress is currently on a two-week break after failing to reach a deal for the DHS, which oversees the TSA among other services, during a vote held last Friday. The ongoing standoff reflects deepening divisions within Congress, where funding for the DHS continues to be a point of contention.
The shutdown has caused severe travel chaos, prompting concerns about the US's ability to host the upcoming World Cup, as reports of extensive airport security delays have surfaced, with thousands of TSA officers absent from work.
