The Department of Homeland Security shutdown has continued for over a month, with TSA agents working without pay. Thousands of officers are calling out, causing airport security lines to stretch across entire terminals. Senate Republicans offered President Trump a compromise bill that would fund every part of DHS except ICE, but Trump rejected the proposal.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune pitched the proposal as a way to quickly restore normal air travel operations. Democrats have refused to approve DHS funding unless limitations are placed on immigration enforcement. According to NBC News, Thune's plan would fund ICE through a separate reconciliation bill later this year, requiring only 51 votes instead of 60 and eliminating the need for Democratic support.
While DHS remains shut down, ICE agents continue receiving pay through pre-emptive funding from Trump's legislation last year. The President deployed ICE agents to major airports on Monday, with the White House claiming they provide crowd management to help TSA agents focus on security processing. However, reports indicate ICE agents are detaining people within terminals.
Air travel faces additional challenges beyond the shutdown. The U.S.-Israeli war against Iran is driving up fuel prices and ticket costs. New York's major airports experienced significant problems, including a fatal Air Canada crash with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport that killed both pilots, and a fire in Newark-Liberty International Airport's air traffic control tower that forced a ground stop.
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Trump rejected a deal to fund TSA while keeping ICE unfunded, prolonging airport chaos.
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Unpaid TSA agents calling out sick creates massive security delays affecting millions of travelers.
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ICE agents received pre-funding last year while TSA works without pay during the shutdown.