Trump's Threat: ICE Agents to Secure Airports Amid Funding Standoff

Sat Mar 21 2026 22:31:51 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

President Trump has threatened to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports for security purposes unless funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is approved, amid ongoing negotiations in Congress.

In a surprising move, President Trump stated on social media that he would direct ICE agents to provide airport security if a funding deal for the DHS is not reached. This warning comes as the department has been operating without funding since mid-February, affecting TSA employees who have been working without pay. The lack of a funding agreement has led to staffing shortages and increased wait times at airports, as more than 300 TSA workers have reportedly quit their jobs.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to send agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide security at airports unless a deal is reached to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Security like no one has ever seen before, Trump posted on Truth Social on Saturday.

The DHS has gone without funding since mid-February, after Congress failed to reach a funding agreement - leaving normal airport security without pay.

A bill that would fund DHS and provide payments for Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents at airports failed to advance in the Senate on Friday.

The Trump administration has blamed the delay on Democrats, who have declined to pass funding without reforms to ICE, which operates under DHS. This hold-up has meant thousands of TSA staff have been working without pay for more than a month.

More than 300 TSA employees have reportedly quit, and unscheduled absences have more than doubled. Long lines have formed at airports, while some TSA officers have taken on second jobs to make ends meet. Airports are even collecting gift cards and food parcels for TSA staff as many employees struggle financially.

Johnny Jones, a Dallas-based official in the government workers' union AFGE, expressed concerns, stating, Numerous employees have reported to me that their bank accounts are at zero or negative. They just want to know why the hell they can't get paid when we have money to shoot missiles into other countries.

ICE has played a key role in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, making thousands of arrests since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025. However, the agency is facing heavy criticism for its tactics from many Democrats, civil liberties groups, and NGOs.

Trump stated that the deployment of ICE agents would begin on Monday if the Democrats do not allow for just and proper security at airports and elsewhere throughout the country. It's important to note that while ICE operates under DHS, it has not been significantly affected by the partial government shutdown due to previously allocated funding.

Democrats have been demanding reforms to ICE following incidents that resulted in the deaths of two individuals during protests against the administration's immigration policies. They are urging that DHS bar immigration agents from wearing face masks and tighten identification and warrant rules for agents.