Long lines, unpaid TSA workers: Experts say US air travel system in crisis

Due to a partial government shutdown that began in mid-February 2026, TSA workers have gone unpaid, leading to staffing shortages and long lines at US airports. The situation has been exacerbated by hundreds of TSA employees quitting or calling out sick. The Trump administration has deployed ICE agents to airports to fill the gaps, a move that has drawn criticism. Analysts warn that the situation, compounded by complications from the US-Israel war on Iran, has created systemic dysfunction and calls into question the safety and reliability of US air travel. Over 450 TSA workers have quit since the shutdown began.

In March 2026, the Trump administration deployed ICE agents to airports across the United States. This action was taken due to staffing issues and delays at these locations. The deployment is viewed as a negotiating tactic by the administration amidst a funding dispute with Democrats. Democrats have responded by describing the move as dangerous. The increased ICE presence at airports aims to address operational challenges while simultaneously applying pressure in the ongoing funding negotiations.

Amid a continuing government shutdown and a funding dispute with congressional Democrats, President Trump threatened to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to U.S. airports. This threat comes as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel are poised to miss their second paycheck due to the shutdown, leading to increased sick calls and travel disruptions. Trump stated ICE agents would provide superior security at airports, despite the fact that airport security is specifically the domain of the TSA. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees both TSA and ICE, is at the center of the funding clash. ICE has faced criticism for its role in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

A bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security failed in the Senate due to Democratic opposition, raising concerns about growing airport security lines. Democrats are seeking changes to immigration enforcement practices following recent shooting deaths and are proposing an alternative measure to fund only the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Negotiations are ongoing between the White House and a bipartisan group of senators, with the White House reportedly increasing its offer to resolve the standoff. Republicans accuse Democrats of hindering efforts to address airport delays, while Democrats insist on separating TSA funding from broader homeland security issues. Lawmakers are holding a rare weekend session to address the funding impasse.

President Trump stated on Saturday that he will order ICE officers to assist with airport security starting Monday, March 22, 2026, unless Democrats agree to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Trump announced this plan via social media while in Florida, citing long security lines at major airports due to a partial government shutdown. He suggested ICE agents would arrest "all Illegal Immigrants" at airports. This move is seen as an effort to expand immigration enforcement amid a congressional standoff. Democrats have pledged to oppose DHS funding without changes following a crackdown in Minnesota, seeking better identification for federal law enforcement, a new code of conduct, and increased use of judicial warrants.

Donald Trump threatened to deploy ICE agents to U.S. airports starting Monday if Democrats don't agree to measures strengthening security and immigration enforcement. This threat comes amid a political standoff over DHS funding, which Democrats blocked for the fifth time since mid-February, demanding changes in immigration enforcement. Trump claims ICE would provide unprecedented security, including arresting illegal immigrants, with a focus on those from Somalia, particularly in Minnesota. The move comes as TSA agents face financial struggles and increased callouts, and nearly a year after TSA began requiring federally compliant IDs, potentially giving the government more immigration status data on travelers. It is disputed whether ICE or Customs and Border Protection has the authority to pick up non-US citizens within the airports.

Amid a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security, President Trump threatened to deploy ICE agents to US airports. The shutdown, now in its fifth week, has left TSA employees working without pay, leading to airport delays. Trump blamed Democrats for the impasse and proposed using ICE agents to handle airport security. He stated that ICE would focus on arresting all illegal immigrants, with a particular emphasis on Somali immigrants. This threat comes after Trump has previously targeted Somalis with derogatory remarks and amid a broader crackdown on immigration during his second term. The move is framed as a solution to airport security issues caused by the shutdown.