Trump Proposes ICE Agents for Airport Security Amid Shutdown

On Saturday, Donald Trump announced via Truth Social that he would deploy U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to provide airport security due to a budget standoff that has left regular Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel unpaid.

Trump criticized Democrats for not signing a funding agreement and stated that ICE agents would ensure airport security like never seen before. This announcement followed a partial government shutdown that began on February 14, which forced thousands of TSA staff to work without pay, affecting their livelihoods.

Elon Musk also offered to cover salaries for TSA personnel during this impasse. Reports indicate that the TSA workforce is under significant stress, with 300 employees quitting since the shutdown began.

Major airports have warned passengers to arrive earlier due to longer security lines, as many TSA employees struggle financially without pay. Trump’s comments included a dig at Democrat-run states, particularly Minneapolis, where he suggested immediate arrests of illegal immigrants.