politics
March 24, 2026
TSA workers try to survive second shutdown and ICE influx: ‘We need to be paid’
Workers are ‘in the middle of chaos from political games’ as Senate Republicans try to negotiate with Democrats to reopen DHS

TL;DR
- TSA workers are in their sixth week without pay due to the DHS shutdown.
- Over 400 TSA workers have quit, and high call-out rates are causing longer airport security wait times.
- The White House deployed ICE officers to 14 airports to help with TSA staffing shortages.
- The TSA union states ICE agents are unqualified for aviation security roles and their deployment harms morale.
- Democrats are withholding DHS funding until ICE reforms are enacted.
- Political negotiations to end the shutdown have not yet yielded a resolution.
- TSA workers are experiencing increased financial and emotional stress due to the ongoing shutdown, recalling difficulties from a previous shutdown.
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