Trump Pledges to Place ICE Agents at Airports Amid TSA Staffing Shortages

With TSA workers going unpaid during the government shutdown, the president says ICE agents will be assigned to airport security.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 9:05pm

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As the partial government shutdown continues, President Donald Trump has announced plans to assign U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to assist with airport security amid staffing shortages at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The move comes as hundreds of TSA workers have resigned or called out shifts due to lack of pay, leading to long lines and canceled flights at airports across the country.

Why it matters

The decision to place ICE agents in airports raises concerns about the ability of these agents to properly handle the specialized duties of airport security, which require extensive training. It also highlights the broader political tensions over immigration enforcement and the ongoing budget impasse between Republicans and Democrats that has led to the partial government shutdown.

The details

According to officials, more than 400 TSA workers have left their posts since the partial government shutdown began in February. Trump says he will direct ICE agents to be put at airports beginning Monday, with the agents primarily handling securing entrances and exits rather than the work of checking bags and operating X-ray machines. However, union officials warn that airport security is not a simple job that can easily be handled by other agencies, as it takes TSA officers months and years to get up to speed.

  • The partial government shutdown began in February 2026.
  • Trump announced the plan to assign ICE agents to airports on March 22, 2026.
  • The ICE agents are set to be deployed to airports starting on Monday, March 25, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who announced the plan to assign ICE agents to airports.

Tom Homan

The president's 'Border Czar' who discussed the plans for ICE agents to be deployed to airports.

Darrell English

The president of the Local 777 TSA union, who warned that airport security is not a simple job that can easily be handled by other agencies.

Everett Kelley

The national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents TSA agents and other federal workers, who criticized the plan to replace TSA agents with 'untrained, armed agents.'

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What they’re saying

“I want to make sure people understand, officers aren't calling out sick on purpose, they are calling out because they don't have the money and that's not a category they have to chose from.”

— Darrell English, President of the Local 777 TSA union

“Our members at TSA have been showing up every day, without a paycheck, because they believe in the mission of keeping the flying public safe. They deserve to be paid, not replaced by untrained, armed agents who have shown how dangerous they can be.”

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

What’s next

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The takeaway

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