U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports if Congress fails to resolve a funding impasse affecting airport security operations.
The warning comes amid a prolonged partial government shutdown triggered by a dispute over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees both ICE and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said ICE agents could be moved to airports to carry out security duties if Democrats do not approve funding, claiming they would provide enhanced security.
The standoff has severely impacted airport operations across the United States, with thousands of TSA employees working without pay. Reports indicate that more than 10% of TSA staff have called in sick, while hundreds have resigned, leading to long security lines and travel disruptions.
However, the proposal has drawn sharp criticism from Democrats and civil liberties groups, who argue that ICE agents are not trained for airport security roles and that the move could misuse immigration enforcement powers.
Lawmakers remain divided over DHS funding, with Democrats pushing for reforms to immigration enforcement practices, while Republicans demand full funding without additional conditions.
The funding deadlock has now entered its second month, with ongoing negotiations yet to produce a breakthrough, raising concerns over further disruptions to airport security and national travel