Trump Demands SAVE Act Approval for TSA Funding Deal
President Donald Trump has issued a direct challenge to Democrats seeking to restore funding for the Transportation Security Administration, stating he will not agree to any deal without their approval of his Save America Act. He highlighted that Democrats are pushing to fund the TSA as massive lines plague airports nationwide, while withholding funding from other parts of the Department of Homeland Security due to disputes over Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the US Border Patrol.
In an interview with NewsNation's DC correspondent Hannah Brandt, Trump declared, "I do not think any deal should be made on this until they approve SAVE America." The proposed bill includes stringent measures such as requiring voter ID and proof of citizenship for elections, banning mail-in voting except for military personnel and those with illness, disability, or travel needs, prohibiting transgender females from participating in women's sports, and banning gender-affirming surgeries for minors.
House Version and Senate Stalemate
A watered-down version passed by the House of Representatives omits bans on biological men in women's sports and restrictions on transgender surgeries for minors. With the bill stalled in the Senate, Trump announced plans to deploy ICE agents to airports starting Monday to assist understaffed TSA personnel.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump posted, "On Monday, ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents who have stayed on the job, despite the fact that the Radical Left Democrats, who are only focused on protecting hardline criminals who have entered our Country illegally, are endangering the USA by holding back the money that was long ago agreed to with signed and sealed contracts." He added, "But watch, no matter how great a job ICE does, the Lunatics leading the incompetent Dems will be highly critical of their work."
Funding Crisis and Deployment Details
Homeland Security funding expired on February 14 after the Senate failed to pass a new budget, affecting TSA operations while ICE agents continue to be paid, as reported by the American Prospect. Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act allocated $175 billion to immigration and border patrol agencies, though department funding was cut elsewhere.
Trump told Brandt he is prepared to have ICE agents assist at airports "for as long as it takes." According to Reuters sources, agents are expected to deploy to 14 airports on Monday, though the number may change. The Department of Homeland Security stated, "President Trump is taking action to deploy hundreds of ICE officers, that are currently funded by Congress, to airports being adversely impacted. This will help bolster TSA efforts to keep our skies safe and minimize air travel disruptions."
Criticism and Role Confusion
However, the plan faces strong opposition. Everett Kelly, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, argued in a statement to NPR, "ICE agents are not trained or certified in aviation security. They deserve to be paid, not replaced by untrained, armed agents who have shown how dangerous they could be," referencing deaths during immigration raids in Minneapolis. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries echoed concerns on CNN, warning of potential brutality or fatalities.
Questions persist about the specific roles ICE agents will assume. Tom Homan, Trump's border czar overseeing the deployment, told CNN that ICE agents might relieve TSA agents on guard duty at terminal entries and exits, but not operate X-ray machines due to lack of training. In contrast, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy suggested on ABC News that ICE agents could handle X-ray machines, as both agencies fall under Homeland Security.
Impact on TSA Workers and Airports
Duffy warned that long airport lines could worsen if Congress fails to fund Homeland Security by week's end, when TSA workers face missing a second paycheck. He predicted, "I think you're going to see more TSA agents - as we come to Thursday, Friday, Saturday of next week - they're going to quit or they're not going to show up."
Approximately 50,000 TSA workers have been unpaid for over a month, with at least 366 agents quitting nationwide, leading to security wait times exceeding two hours at some airports. At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, lines extended into baggage claim areas, and TSA's acting deputy administrator cautioned that some airports might shut down if chaos continues.
In response, former head of DOGE Elon Musk offered to pay TSA salaries during the funding impasse, posting on X, "I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country."
