ICE officers could remain at airports after TSA workers are paid
NPR • • nation
Key Points:
- ICE agents may continue working at U.S. airports even after TSA workers start receiving paychecks, depending on TSA staffing levels and worker returns, according to White House border czar Tom Homan.
- TSA workers have been unpaid for weeks due to a DHS shutdown, with over 480 TSA employees quitting and absences reaching up to 40% at some airports, causing long security wait times.
- President Trump signed a memo to pay TSA workers from existing funds despite Congress not approving DHS funding, with paychecks expected as early as Monday or Tuesday, though the source of funds remains unclear.
- ICE agents have been assisting TSA by handling ID checks and other tasks to allow TSA workers to focus on specialized duties, helping reduce wait times at some airports like Houston and Baltimore.
- Congressional negotiations to permanently fund DHS remain stalled, with lawmakers on recess until mid-April, leaving the shutdown and staffing issues unresolved for now.
