What We Know About the T.S.A. and ICE Presence at Airports
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- TSA officers have been working without pay since February 14 due to a partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security's funding, causing long security lines at major U.S. airports.
- The shutdown led to increased absenteeism and about 500 TSA agents quitting, prompting the Trump administration to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to assist with airport security.
- A bipartisan Senate deal to end the shutdown was rejected by House Republicans, but President Trump signed an order to use an alternative funding source to pay TSA officers starting Monday.
- Despite these measures, ICE agents may remain at airports until TSA operations stabilize, and passengers at airports in Houston, New York, and Atlanta have experienced hours-long waits in security lines.
