TSA Officers Call Out in Record Numbers as DHS Shutdown Continues

Travelers face long lines as TSA staffing issues worsen amid budget impasse

Mar. 24, 2026 at 2:48pm

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The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) saw its highest rate of officer call-outs on Saturday, March 21, with over 3,250 officers calling out, accounting for 11.51% of the scheduled workforce. Airport security lines are growing nationwide as TSA officers, who haven't received a paycheck for over three weeks, call out of work. The Trump administration has threatened to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports to assist with security, but the union representing TSA workers has criticized the move, stating that ICE agents are not trained or certified in aviation security.

Why it matters

The partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown has had a significant impact on the TSA, with officers calling out in record numbers due to lack of pay. This has led to growing security lines at airports across the country, raising concerns about public safety and the ability of the TSA to effectively carry out its mission. The potential deployment of ICE agents to assist with airport security has also sparked controversy, with the TSA union arguing that these agents lack the specialized training and expertise required for the job.

The details

According to exclusive data obtained by ABC News, over 3,250 TSA officers called out on Saturday, March 21, accounting for 11.51% of the scheduled workforce. This is the highest call-out rate since the partial DHS shutdown began. The president of the union representing TSA workers has criticized the Trump administration's threat to send ICE agents to airports, stating that they are not trained or certified in aviation security and that their presence would create, rather than fill, a gap in security.

  • On Saturday, March 21, over 3,250 TSA officers called out, accounting for 11.51% of the scheduled workforce.
  • Over the weekend, President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform that he will deploy ICE agents to airports beginning Monday unless Democrats agree to a funding package to end the DHS shutdown.

The players

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy

Stated on ABC's "This Week" that ICE agents are trained and can assist with airport security.

Tom Homan

White House Border Czar, said on CNN's "State of the Union" that ICE agents can play roles to "release TSA officers from the non significant role, such as guarding an exit, so they can get back to the scanning machines and move people quicker."

Everett Kelley

President of the American Federation of Government Employees National, issued a statement blasting the Trump administration's "threat" to send ICE to airports, stating that ICE agents are not trained or certified in aviation security.

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What they’re saying

“We're simply there to help TSA do their job in areas that don't need their specialized expertise, such as, you know, screening through the x-ray machine, not trained on that, we won't do that. But there are roles we can play to release TSA officers from the non significant role, such as guarding an exit, so they can get back to the scanning machines and move people quicker.”

— Tom Homan, White House Border Czar

“ICE agents are not trained or certified in aviation security. TSA officers spend months learning to detect explosives, weapons, and threats specifically designed to evade detection at checkpoints – skills that require specialized instruction, hands-on practice, and ongoing recertification. You cannot improvise that. Putting untrained personnel at security checkpoints does not fill a gap. It creates one.”

— Everett Kelley, President of the American Federation of Government Employees National

What’s next

It is unclear how many ICE agents would be sent to airports or which airports they will be sent to.

The takeaway

The partial DHS shutdown has had a significant impact on the TSA, leading to long security lines and raising concerns about public safety. The potential deployment of untrained ICE agents to assist with airport security has sparked controversy, with the TSA union arguing that it would create, rather than fill, a gap in security.