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Donald Trump, President of the United States, has threatened to deploy agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide security at airports amid an ongoing funding impasse that has partially shut down the Department of Homeland Security.
In a message posted on social media, Trump warned that if lawmakers do not immediately reach an agreement on funding, ICE agents would be moved to airports to handle security operations. The statement comes as thousands of Transportation Security Administration officers continue working without pay due to the prolonged funding deadlock in Congress.
The funding dispute has caused disruptions at major airports across the United States, with long security lines, delays, and staffing shortages reported in several cities, including Houston, Atlanta, and New Orleans. In some airports, security wait times have reportedly exceeded three hours.
The shutdown began after the U.S. Congress failed to pass a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security due to disagreements over immigration enforcement policies. Republicans have pushed for broader immigration enforcement funding, while Democrats have sought separate funding for agencies like airport security without linking it to immigration operations.
The ongoing political deadlock continues to raise concerns about airport security, travel disruptions, and the wider impact of the funding crisis on government operations.