GOP Rep. Tom Kean Returns to Congress, Disclosing Diagnosis of Depression Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey disclosed on Tuesday that he had been hospitalized for depression, a condition that has kept him absent from public life for months. Speaking on the House floor, Kean emphasized the importance of seeking help, stating, “Asking for help is not a weakness. It is a strength.” His disclosure came as he prepares to run for a third term in a competitive district, despite having missed over 140 votes since March 5, when he last cast a ballot. Kean described depression as a complex illness that extends beyond emotional distress, noting its physical and psychological toll. “Until you experience it yourself, it is difficult to fully understand how powerful this illness can be,” he said. During his hospital stay, he reflected on how long the condition had affected his life, acknowledging that recovery has no set timeline. “There is no timeline for healing, only the work of getting better one day at a time,” he added. House Speaker Mike Johnson, who addressed reporters ahead of Kean’s speech, expressed support for the New Jersey Republican. Johnson admitted he would have been more open about his own condition but defended Kean’s absence, stating, “I think his constituents have been served throughout this process. I think Tom gets reelected easily this fall.” Johnson also sent a personal note to Kean, assuring him, “We’re in your corner and we’re behind you 100%.” Kean’s prolonged absence sparked questions about transparency. Johnson claimed he had spoken with Kean on April 24, during which the congressman described his condition as a “personal health matter” and expressed optimism about his recovery.#new_jersey #house_speaker_mike_johnson #tom_kean_jr #tom_kean_sr #congressional_disclosure_documents
Trump signs order to pay TSA employees after Congress fails to agree on DHS funding President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order to pay Transportation Security Administration employees, aiming to address the ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. The move came after a failed attempt by Congress to reach a funding agreement for the agency, which has left thousands of federal workers without pay and caused widespread disruptions at U.S. airports. In a memo authorizing the payments, Trump described the situation as an “emergency” that threatens national security. He stated that the administration would use funds “with a reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations” to cover the employees’ salaries. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin confirmed that TSA workers could begin receiving paychecks as early as Monday. However, the action does not resolve the broader funding crisis for DHS, which has been in a shutdown since late October, extending to 44 days by Sunday—surpassing the previous record of 43 days set last fall. The shutdown has led to severe delays at major airports, with long security lines and warnings of potential closures. TSA workers, many of whom have missed paychecks, have been increasingly absent from duty. According to DHS data, over 11.8% of TSA employees missed work on Thursday, translating to more than 3,450 callouts. Nearly 500 of the agency’s 50,000 transportation security officers have quit during the shutdown, exacerbating staffing shortages. Congressional efforts to fund DHS have stalled, with the House and Senate passing vastly different bills.#president_donald_trump #transportation_security_administration #senate_majority_leader_john_thune #house_speaker_mike_johnson #homeland_security_secretary_markwayne_mullin
Trump has ordered TSA workers be paid, regardless of what Congress does. Here’s what we know President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Friday directing the Department of Homeland Security to immediately pay Transportation Security Administration employees, even as Congress remains deadlocked over funding for the agency. The move comes amid a prolonged government shutdown that has left thousands of TSA workers without pay for over a month, causing severe disruptions at airports nationwide. The president’s directive, outlined in a statement, instructs the Secretary of Homeland Security to use funds “with a reasonable and logical nexus to TSA operations” to compensate employees for the pay they would have received had the agency not been shut down. While the exact mechanism for funding remains unclear, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) indicated that TSA workers could begin receiving back pay as early as Monday, March 30. The shutdown, which began on February 14, has left approximately 61,000 TSA employees without their second full paycheck. The crisis has led to widespread staffing shortages, with thousands of officers calling in sick and over 500 resigning. This has resulted in massive delays at airports, particularly in cities like Atlanta and Houston, where travelers have faced hours-long waits at security checkpoints. The funding for TSA employees appears to be drawn from the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act, a domestic policy package signed by Trump in 2025. The legislation allocated $10 billion to DHS for border security initiatives, though TSA itself is not explicitly mentioned in the law.#president_donald_trump #department_of_homeland_security #american_federation_of_government_employees #transportation_security_administration #house_speaker_mike_johnson
