Trump threatens to send ICE into airports unless funding deal reached

March 21, 2026

President Trump has threatened to deploy ICE agents to handle airport security starting Monday if Congress doesn't reach an agreement to fund the Department of Homeland Security, which has been unfunded since mid-February. The funding impasse has left TSA agents working without pay for over a month, resulting in hundreds of resignations, increased absences, and long airport lines as employees struggle financially. Democrats are blocking DHS funding legislation unless it includes reforms to ICE operations, particularly regarding identification requirements and warrant procedures, following the deaths of two protesters killed by federal agents in Minneapolis.

Who is affected

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents working without pay for over a month
More than 300 TSA employees who have quit
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) staff
Airport travelers experiencing long security lines
Johnny Jones and TSA employees reporting zero or negative bank balances
Alex Pretti and Renee Good, two Minneapolis residents killed by federal agents
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who may be reassigned
Democrats in Congress blocking the funding bill
Civil liberties groups and NGOs critical of ICE tactics

What action is being taken

TSA agents are working without pay
TSA employees are taking on second jobs
Airports are collecting gift cards and food parcels for TSA staff
ICE is conducting immigration enforcement operations and making arrests
Democrats are demanding reforms to ICE before approving DHS funding
Congress is attempting to negotiate a funding agreement

Why it matters

This situation matters because it creates a critical vulnerability in national airport security infrastructure while leaving thousands of federal workers in financial distress. The standoff represents a broader political conflict over immigration enforcement tactics and accountability, with Democrats leveraging the funding crisis to demand oversight reforms following deaths during immigration raids. The potential deployment of untrained ICE agents to perform airport security functions could compromise traveler safety and airport operations while further escalating tensions over the administration's immigration policies.

What's next

Trump threatens to begin deploying ICE agents to airports on Monday if no funding deal is reached
Congress must negotiate and pass DHS funding legislation that addresses Democratic demands for ICE reforms

Read full article from source: BBC