So here's what's happening with the government shutdown that just won't quit: President Donald Trump's new Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is giving credit where he thinks it's due—to Trump for paying TSA agents—while pointing fingers at Democrats for keeping the whole mess going.
Mullin, who just took over from ousted Secretary Kristi Noem (who left after that $220 million government ad campaign), shared a White House post celebrating Trump's executive order to get TSA employees their paychecks. He thanked Trump for "finding a way" to end what he called the "chaos" at airports across the country.
But then came the political jab. "These hours long lines and thousands of Americans missing their flights was caused solely by the Democrats reckless @DHSgov shutdown," Mullin said in his post. He noted that while TSA agents are getting paid, workers from other agencies like FEMA, the Coast Guard, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are still waiting for their money.
"The Democrats must stop playing political games with our national security, quit punishing our employees, and re-open DHS," he added. That's some strong language from the new guy in charge.
Meanwhile, in the "billionaires trying to help" department, the White House formally said "no thanks" to Tesla Inc. (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk's offer to cover TSA salaries during the shutdown. The administration cited legal challenges with having a private citizen pay government workers—which, fair enough, that does sound like it could get complicated.
On the other side of the political aisle, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) had some choice words of her own. She accused Trump and Republicans of holding TSA employees' salaries "hostage" to force Congress to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act. That's the legislation that would require voters to prove citizenship with government ID at the polls.
Warren also connected some dots that might make frequent flyers nervous. She said Trump's policies toward Iran are causing problems at the pump with rising gas prices, and according to United Airlines Holdings Inc. (UAL) CEO Scott Kirby, those jet fuel costs could lead to a surge in airfares. So even if TSA agents get paid, your next flight might cost you more.
It's day 41 of this shutdown, and everyone seems to have someone else to blame. The new DHS secretary is thanking his boss while blaming the opposition, a billionaire's offer gets rejected on legal grounds, and a senator is connecting foreign policy to your future vacation costs. Just another day in Washington.
