Trump Threatens to Deploy ICE Agents to Airports Over Funding Impasse

President says agents will provide 'security like no one has ever seen' if Democrats don't agree to fund airport safety.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 10:05am

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U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to U.S. airports on Monday if congressional Democrats do not immediately agree to fund airport safety. Trump's threat comes as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel are set to miss a second full paycheck due to the ongoing partial government shutdown.

Why it matters

Trump's proposal to use ICE agents, who are not trained for airport security, has drawn criticism from Democrats and civil liberties advocates who see it as a misuse of the agency. The staffing shortages at TSA due to the shutdown have already disrupted travel at major airports, raising concerns about public safety.

The details

Trump wrote on Truth Social that he will 'move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Security like no one has ever seen before.' ICE agents are not specifically trained for airport security, which is the domain of the TSA, which has 65,000 employees including 50,000 airport security officers. Over 10% of TSA officers have called in sick on more than half of the past seven days, and more than 400 TSA workers have quit since the partial shutdown began on February 14.

  • The partial government shutdown has been ongoing for more than a month since it began on February 14, 2026.
  • TSA personnel are set to miss a second full paycheck on Friday, February 28, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who threatened to deploy ICE agents to airports.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

The federal agency responsible for airport security, which has 65,000 employees including 50,000 airport security officers.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency that has played a central role in the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, drawing criticism from many Democrats, civil liberties advocates and immigration advocacy groups.

Richard Blumenthal

A Democratic Senator from Connecticut who criticized Trump's proposal as 'another reckless, lawless threat to misuse ICE agents.'

Bennie Thompson

The top Democrat on the Committee on Homeland Security in the House of Representatives, who said Trump was 'manufacturing chaos at airports for political leverage' and that putting ICE agents in travel checkpoints would bring a 'tool of fascism' to America.

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What they’re saying

“I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Security like no one has ever seen before.”

— Donald Trump, President of the United States

“He seems to have no concept of what the limits are on ICE, and I think America would be absolutely appalled to see ICE agents roaming through airports, just as they've been breaking down doors at homes.”

— Richard Blumenthal, U.S. Senator

“Donald Trump needs to stand down his secret police, agree to reasonable ICE reforms, and let us pay TSA workers.”

— Bennie Thompson, U.S. Representative

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.