White House Deploys ICE Agents to Replace Airport Security Officers, Method Faces Criticism

SighingCashier · 2026-03-22T21:01:17+00:00

The U.S. White House has decided to have Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents assist with airport security screening to address Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staffing shortages, but the decision has drawn criticism from the TSA union, which argues that ICE agents lack professional training and cannot effectively perform security screening duties. Due to Congressional gridlock over Department of Homeland Security appropriations, tens of thousands of TSA employees have been working without pay, adding pressure to security screening operations. The union is calling for resolution of the pay issue to alleviate the staffing shortage.

SighingCashier

2026-03-22 21:01:17

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The White House border affairs chief Homan and Transportation Secretary Buttigieg stated on Sunday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents could begin assisting with airport security screenings starting Monday to address staffing shortages at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). However, this arrangement has been widely criticized, with the TSA union arguing that ICE agents have not received specialized training and cannot help resolve the issue of unpaid wages. Buttigieg countered that ICE agents are skilled in pat-downs and operating X-ray machines, while Homan said they are only performing “non-essential” tasks.

Due to a stalemate in funding negotiations between Congress’s Democratic and Republican members over the Department of Homeland Security (the parent agency of ICE and TSA), tens of thousands of TSA employees have been working unpaid for several weeks. Over the weekend, Trump announced that unless Democrats agree to fund the Department of Homeland Security, ICE agents will be deployed to airports.

Recently, about 10% of TSA staff have been absent, with higher absentee rates at major airports in Atlanta, New York, and Houston, causing long lines at boarding gates. The TSA employees’ union criticized the White House decision, stating that their members have spent months receiving training on detecting explosives and weapons, and questioned whether ICE agents are capable of taking over these duties. The union demanded a quick resolution to the payroll issue to eliminate staffing shortages.

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