Trump Threatens to Deploy ICE to Airports as Musk Offers to Pay TSA Worker Salaries

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President Donald Trump threatened to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to U.S. airports unless a partial government shutdown ends, while billionaire Elon Musk offered to pay the salaries of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers as more staffers go without pay.

Why it matters

The staffing shortages at U.S. airports are expected to worsen as the partial government shutdown drags on, leading to longer wait times for travelers. Trump's threat to send ICE agents to airports raises concerns about the potential impact on airport operations and security, while Musk's offer to pay TSA worker salaries highlights the financial hardship faced by federal employees affected by the shutdown.

The details

Trump, in a Truth Social post, said he would send ICE agents to airports unless congressional Democrats agreed to fund the Department of Homeland Security, ending the partial government shutdown. Musk, in a post on X, offered to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during the 'funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country.' Staffing shortages have resulted in longer lines at U.S. airports, with Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport reporting wait times of up to two hours on Saturday morning and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's main security checkpoint and north checkpoint having wait times over one hour.

• On Saturday, Trump threatened to deploy ICE agents to airports.
• Musk offered to pay the salaries of TSA personnel on X.

What they’re saying

What’s next

It remains to be seen whether Trump will follow through on his threat to deploy ICE agents to airports, and whether Musk will actually pay the salaries of TSA workers affected by the government shutdown.