TSA Agents Unpaid as Congress Battles Over Immigration Funding

Partisan gridlock leaves airport security workers without paychecks as Republicans demand more money for ICE and Border Patrol

Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:36am

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The ongoing battle over funding for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at U.S. airports has exposed the deep divisions within the Republican party, as hardline conservatives demand increased funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) despite public opposition to their tactics. With TSA agents going unpaid, the standoff has led to growing airport delays and chaos.

Why it matters

The TSA funding fight is a microcosm of the broader challenges facing the Republican party, as the extremism of the MAGA faction clashes with the realities of governing. Public opposition to the aggressive tactics of ICE and Border Patrol has put Democrats in a strong position to resist increased funding without reforms, even as Republicans control both chambers of Congress and the White House.

The details

When Congress passed the appropriations bills to fund the government for 2026, Republicans in the House passed funding for the Department of Homeland Security with a simple majority. But in the Senate, Democrats used the filibuster to block increased funding for ICE and CBP, which have been accused of excessive force and civil rights abuses. This led to a standoff, with Republicans refusing to pass funding for the rest of DHS, including the TSA, without the ICE and CBP money. As TSA agents went unpaid, President Trump attempted to intervene by sending in ICE agents to airports, but this backfired as the agents were unable to effectively handle security screenings.

  • In July 2025, the Republican-led Congress passed the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act', providing $170.7 billion in additional funding for immigration and border enforcement.
  • In the current budget fight, the Senate passed a measure to fund all of DHS except ICE and CBP, but the House refused to take it up.
  • On Sunday, March 26, 2026, President Trump demanded the Senate add the 'SAVE America Act', which would impose new voting restrictions, to the DHS funding bill.
  • On Monday, March 27, 2026, the Senate unanimously passed a measure funding all of DHS, including TSA, but without additional money for ICE and CBP.
  • The House has so far refused to pass the Senate's bill, instead pushing for a 60-day continuing resolution to keep DHS funded at current levels.

The players

Donald J. Trump

The former president who has continued to push for increased immigration enforcement and voting restrictions, even as his hardline policies have become increasingly unpopular.

Chuck Schumer

The Senate Minority Leader, who has led Democrats in resisting increased funding for ICE and CBP without reforms to their practices.

John Thune

The Senate Majority Leader, who has struggled to find a compromise that can pass both chambers of Congress.

Mike Johnson

The Republican Speaker of the House, who is beholden to the far-right Freedom Caucus and has refused to bring the Senate's DHS funding bill to a vote.

Jim McGovern

A Democratic Congressman who has criticized Republican leadership for prioritizing ideological purity over governing.

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What they’re saying

“In the wake of the murder of Alex Pretti and Renee Good, Democrats made it clear, no blank check for ICE and Border Patrol.”

— Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader

“What the hell are you guys doing? Everyone knows the bill could pass with a large majority if Johnson would bring it to a vote. Freedom Caucus members 'don't care about governing,' they only care about writing another blank check for ICE...or getting a shout-out on some batsh*t crazy right-wing podcast.”

— Jim McGovern, Democratic Congressman

What’s next

The House and Senate will need to reach a compromise on DHS funding before the current continuing resolution expires, in order to avoid a partial government shutdown and continued disruption at U.S. airports.

The takeaway

The TSA funding fight highlights the deep divisions within the Republican party, as hardline conservatives clash with more pragmatic members over issues like immigration enforcement. This gridlock has real-world consequences for American travelers and the broader economy, underscoring the need for bipartisan cooperation and a return to governing based on facts and public interest rather than ideological purity.