ice / tsa / government shutdown

Over a month into a partial U.S. government shutdown, TSA staffing shortages have produced long airport security lines and prompted the administration to deploy ICE agents to at least 14 airports to help. Frontline TSA officers and union leaders told WIRED and Congress that ICE personnel lack TSA-specific training and certification for many screening duties, leading them to mainly patrol, give directions or stand by while paid TSA staff work without pay. The deployment has inflamed concerns about workforce morale, financial hardship for unpaid employees, rising callout and quit rates, and fears the government may permanently replace screeners with other federal agents or private contractors. Lawmakers pressed TSA leadership about training and contingency plans.

TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill told a House Homeland Security hearing that ongoing partial federal shutdown-driven staffing strains have produced the longest security-screening wait times in TSA history, with some lines exceeding 4.5 hours. The agency said more than 480 TSA officers have left during this shutdown cycle and absences have surged — in some airports 40–50% of staff are calling off because they cannot afford unpaid work. TSA is consolidating lanes, considering closures at smaller airports, and warning travelers of significant delays as officers work without pay. The disruptions matter for travel-dependent businesses, airport operations and national mobility ahead of peak travel periods.

TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill told a House Homeland Security hearing that ongoing partial federal shutdowns have driven airport security wait times to the highest levels in TSA history, with some queues exceeding 4.5 hours. The agency has lost more than 480 officers this shutdown and saw a 25% rise in separations during last fall’s 43-day shutdown, while callouts and absences have surged—exceeding one-third of staff at major hubs like Houston, NYC and Atlanta on some days. TSA is consolidating lanes, may close smaller airports, and warns travelers of major disruptions as unpaid staff struggle to report to work. This situation risks broader travel system strain and economic impacts.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported record-high airport security wait times across U.S. airports, driven by a surge in post-pandemic travel demand, staffing challenges, and operational strains. Travelers have experienced longer lines and delays at checkpoints as TSA struggles to hire and retain screeners while processing historically high passenger volumes. The backlog has prompted operational adjustments, including reallocating personnel and urging airports and airlines to coordinate on staffing and scheduling. This matters for the tech and travel industries because prolonged wait times increase demand for queue-management, passenger-flow analytics, security screening tech, and airport automation solutions that can improve throughput and traveler experience.

President Trump announced that starting March 23, ICE agents will take over some TSA checkpoint duties at U.S. airports, raising legal questions about passengers' rights on domestic flights. The report notes earlier revelations that TSA had shared airline reservation data with ICE and discusses the difference between TSA checkpoint personnel—who conduct limited administrative searches for aviation threats—and ICE officers, who are empowered to arrest and conduct law-enforcement searches. Courts have upheld administrative searches for aviation security, and TSA has long delegated checkpoint duties to contractors; judges may allow ICE to perform the same role. But ICE agents face fewer civil risks due to qualified immunity, increasing the chance of detentions or arrests and likely prompting lawsuits over the melding of security and immigration enforcement. This matters for civil liberties, aviation security policy, and legal accountability.

Border czar Tom Homan said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will begin deploying to U.S. airports on Monday, March 23, 2026, as the partial government shutdown strains Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staffing and drives hours-long lines. Speaking on CNN, Homan said he is finalizing a plan Sunday with acting ICE director Tedd Lyons and acting TSA administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill to decide which airports to start with, prioritizing those with the longest waits. Homan said ICE would not operate X-ray screening but could take on tasks such as line management and crowd control, while also conducting immigration enforcement “as they already do.” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said ICE and Homeland Security Investigations personnel will deploy to Hartsfield-Jackson Monday for TSA support, not immigration enforcement. Democrats criticized the move amid DHS funding talks.