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President Trump is looking to take executive action to deploy Immigration, Customs, and Enforcement (ICE) agents at airports across the US if the partial government shutdown continues. The plan could be implemented as early as the beginning of the work week, despite backlash and the legalities of the matter being raised.
On Saturday, Mr. Trump blamed Democrats on the funding impasse, which has resulted in long Transportation Security Administration (TSA) wait times from officers refusing to show up to work. It comes as more employees are expected to depart their jobs if they miss another paycheck by the end of the month.
Blaming The TSA
In a social media post on Saturday, the President said the shutdown was an “absolute disgrace” to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), TSA officers, and the American people. While blasting the “radical left Democrats,” Trump also criticized the TSA, claiming that ICE agents would “do the job far better than ever done before.”
Over the past few weeks, security checkpoint wait times have grown to as much as five hours at airports, prompting thousands of passengers to miss their flights. On Saturday, 
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) was among the worst hit. Long lines snaked through the terminal after two checkpoints were closed. According to the President, ICE agents could be deployed as soon as Monday.
“I look forward to moving ICE in on Monday, and have already told them to, ‘GET READY.’ NO MORE WAITING, NO MORE GAMES!”
The President’s desire has sparked debate on social media. One person claimed that “federal law requires TSA‑certified screeners at checkpoints, and ICE has zero authority to do that job.” Simple Flying contacted the TSA for comment on Saturday, but a representative could not be immediately reached.
Airports Seeking The Public’s Help
50,000 TSA officers have been forced to work throughout the funding impasse. The partial government shutdown was sparked after Democrats refused to fund DHS, which includes TSA and ICE, unless the department revised its immigration enforcement policies. Democratic lawmakers have since offered to pass funding only for DHS’s non-immigration enforcement functions and the TSA, but Republicans have rejected the offer.
To mitigate long lines and delays, airports have been seeking the public’s help to incentivize unpaid workers. Earlier this week, PHX said it would accept donations to support TSA employees. It requested items such as non-perishable pre-packaged food, gift cards, hygiene items, and baby essentials.
“These employees play a vital role and are essential to the safe and secure operations at PHX,” officials said. “The prolonged shutdown is significantly impacting frontline employees and is expected to lead to increased callouts and wait times at PHX.”
Denver International Airport (DEN) is also accepting donations. The airport said it is looking for gift cards for grocery stores and gas stations in increments of $10 or $20. Phil Washington, CEO of DEN, said the airport wants to do what it can to “ease the stress” of the federal employees and make things “a little more bearable” for them.
Brutal: Airports Telling Passengers To “Figure It Out” Amid 4-Hour TSA Wait Times
American flyers have been grounded by a government gridlock.
Musk Wants To Pay TSA Workers’ Salaries
Early Saturday, before Trump’s threat to deploy ICE, billionaire Elon Musk offered to pay the salaries of TSA workers. Musk, who was formerly a Trump ally and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), said the partial shutdown “is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country.”
TSA officers have less than a week before they could possibly miss more than a month of paychecks. Congress is scheduled for a two-week recess on March 27. Should a deal not be reached, TSA employees will miss their pay again. The union representing the officers said many have been struggling to afford rent, utilities, and other expenses, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Since mid-February, more than 370 officers have quit, while others have called out sick. TSA employees are prohibited from striking, according to federal law. The agency has since cracked down on callouts. Workers now need a doctor’s note for their first absence, rather than the previous policy that required one after three days of sickness. Regardless, some airports have reportedly seen absence rates approaching 40%.
