TSA employees to get paid Monday following Pres. Trump directive as shutdown continues

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) — Passengers traveling out of Oakland San Francisco Bay airport Saturday evening saw small lines and a few delays. But many still took precautions to come early.

“You hear things online about certain things happening at the airport. But I just hope it doesn’t happen to me. And if I am just smooth about it, it should be fine,” says passenger Zaki Mahmood, who lives in Castro Valley.

“We came early. We were worried because we heard about ICE and how there weren’t a lot of TSA workers. But it seems like it’s fine. Better safe than sorry,” says Sydney Shiner, a Santa Rosa resident. She and her friend came two hours early.

But while it may have been an easy night for passengers, it’s still a stressful time for TSA employees. Almost six weeks now working without pay.

“Morale is really, really, really low at Oakland airport right now, nationwide as well,” says Joseph Cerletti. “Two shutdowns, I believe in the less than six months actually. I have been describing it as a 1-2 punch.”

MORE: What to know about Trump’s order to pay TSA officers and its impact on airport security lines

Cerletti is a Lead TSA Officer at the Oakland airport and assistant chief of the local TSA union. He says they are optimistic following an announcement that they may get paid on Monday.

On Friday, President Trump issued a statement in which he directs Secretary of Homeland Security to, “Use funds that have a reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations to provide TSA employees with the compensation.”

A senior administration official tells ABC News that TSA workers will be paid through a funding bill passed last year. Cerletti excepts to get back pay for the past 2 and half months. But says, many TSA employees are still struggling from the previous shutdown.

MORE: TSA agents will soon be paid but it may not mean immediate relief at airport security lines

“All this money that we are about to get. It’s going straight to bills. It’s going straight to mortgage. It’s going straight to rent. It’s going straight to credit card late fees. Again, we are very appreciative of the money, but it is going to go as quick as it came in,” explains Cerletti.

Cerletti says, even if they get paid, the shutdown continues. And he doesn’t know how or when TSA agents will be paid next.