By Brianna Wallen
News Editor
Following spring break, many airline passengers may have had to deal with unusually long security lines, flight delays and the presence of ICE agents.
According to reports from PBS News, a combination of Transportation Security Administration staffing shortages and a partial federal government shutdown created widespread disruptions at major U.S. airports, forcing travelers to arrive hours earlier than normal and wait through extended screening lines.
“Nearly 500 of the agency’s nearly 50,000 officers have quit since the shutdown started,” according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
These TSA employees who are responsible for airport security across the country have been working without pay since Feb. 14, when a partial government shutdown began.
According to NBC News, the shutdown resulted from a funding lapse for DHS due to a disagreement between Democrats and Republicans over proposed changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement policies, including requirements for signed judicial warrants and restrictions on agents wearing masks.
With TSA workers going without pay for over 40 days and without a clear end in sight, the number of employees not showing up for work has continued to climb.
According to TSA officials, TSA call-out rates on March 26 reached nearly 12%, the highest level recorded since the start of the shutdown.
At individual airports, call-outs have surged at an even faster pace. “
At John F. Kennedy International Airport, TSA officers averaged a 21% absence rate during the shutdown, the highest among major airports,” TSA reports states.
While TSA employees have been working for an extended period without pay, ICE agents have remained unaffected.
According to NPR, paychecks for sworn law enforcement officers at ICE, Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Secret Service are currently being covered through the bill, as Congress previously set aside an additional $75 billion in funding for the agency last summer.
To combat these extensive delays, ICE sent hundreds of agents to 14 airports in an effort to reduce disruptions, according to CNN.
“But while the ICE agents have been spotted in Atlanta, New York, Houston, Chicago and other cities, officials have said they are limited in what duties they can perform: They are not trained, for example, to operate the understaffed security checkpoints that are often the source of delays,” CNN said.
Although ICE agents were deployed to help manage airport traffic, they also have the authority to make arrests.
“They love it because they’re able to arrest illegals as they come into the country. That’s very fertile territory, but that’s not why they’re there; they’re really there to help,” Trump told CNN reporters.
This highlights the tension between ICE’s enforcement responsibilities and its temporary role in supporting airport operations during ongoing staffing challenges.
This situation not only heightens anxiety for travelers but also creates uncertainty and fear among TSA employees.
“Some TSA workers who are immigrants are also concerned they may be detained by ICE if they show up to work,” TSA Council 100’s Secretary-Treasurer Johnny Jones said to CNN.
TSA officials warn that extended funding shortages could cause long-term damage to the screening workforce since employees who are unable to afford basic living costs may decide to quit their jobs.
“It can take months to replace those officers because of the four to six months of training required before employees are able to work independently at checkpoints,” ABC News said.
Overall, TSA staffing shortages combined with the temporary use of ICE agents have made airports a more complex and hectic environment during a peak travel season.
To address the crisis, Trump issued an executive order directing DHS to immediately restore pay to TSA officers using emergency funding sources.
According to PBS News, the administration argued that paying TSA workers was necessary to stabilize airport security and reduce delays.
On Friday, March 27, DHS stated to CBS News that, at the direction of Trump, “TSA has immediately begun the process of paying its workforce.”
The department also stated that TSA officers are expected to start receiving pay as early as Monday, March 30.
