President Donald Trump Threatens National Guard Deployment to U.S. Airports

President Donald Trump has escalated the federal response to mounting travel chaos at U.S. airports by threatening to deploy the National Guard amid severe Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staffing shortages.

“El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, afirmó este lunes que se plantea enviar a la Guardia Nacional a los aeropuertos del país si se mantienen las filas y retrasos que están generando caos en algunos de ellos por la falta de agentes debido al cierre parcial del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional”

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In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump declared 'I may call up the National Guard for more help' as the situation worsened due to the partial government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

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This threat follows the already unusual deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to at least 14 major airports, including John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, to assist with crowd control and passenger flow management.

The federal response reflects growing concern over a crisis that has seen passenger volumes running about 5% above last year while security operations struggle with depleted staffing, creating unprecedented delays and disruption at some of the nation's busiest travel hubs.

The airport crisis stems from a partial government shutdown that has left approximately 50,000 TSA officers working without pay for six weeks, causing severe staffing shortages and operational disruption.

Federal data shows that absentee rates among TSA personnel reached nearly 12% at their peak earlier this week, with more than 3,400 officers calling out and over 480 having quit since the shutdown began on February 14.

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The DHS funding lapse has created a critical situation where essential security personnel are forced to work without compensation, leading to widespread financial hardship and mass departures.

Border czar Tom Homan explained that ICE agents were deployed to 'move the flow of people through those lines' in support roles including crowd control and managing passenger flow in public areas, though officials emphasized they are not conducting screenings or operating behind security checkpoints.

Despite the deployment of ICE personnel and the potential National Guard involvement, most TSA functions remain active because the majority of officers are classified as essential personnel required to work during funding lapses.

The escalating airport crisis has become deeply politicized, with Trump and his administration directly blaming Democrats for the disruptions while using the situation to advance immigration enforcement priorities.

“President Donald Trump said he's considering sending the National Guard to U”

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Trump posted on Truth Social that 'Blame the Democrats for the Airport's mess. They want our Country to do badly. They want our Country to fail,' claiming that Democrats broke an already signed bill because 'they want to take care of Criminals who enter our Country illegally, rather than American citizens.'

The president specifically thanked ICE officers as 'great ICE Patriots' for their help, creating a narrative that positions immigration enforcement as the solution to the crisis.

Meanwhile, congressional negotiations remain deadlocked over immigration enforcement reforms tied to DHS funding, with Democrats demanding changes to how federal immigration agents operate, including rules requiring officers to identify themselves and limits on racial profiling, while Republicans insist DHS should be funded without those conditions.

The political stalemate has pushed the administration toward increasingly dramatic measures to address the airport chaos.

The use of ICE agents in civilian airport spaces has sparked significant criticism from lawmakers and civil liberties advocates who question the appropriateness of immigration enforcement actions in travel hubs.

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, stated that 'Every time Donald Trump gets involved, he creates chaos for the American people,' reflecting growing concerns about the militarization of civilian spaces and potential civil liberties violations.

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While DHS officials have insisted that ICE agents are being used for support roles only and not conducting screenings, there are fears that the presence of armed immigration agents could lead to enforcement actions in civilian travel areas.

WPBF in Florida reported that Homan did not rule out enforcement 'if they see criminal activity' while emphasizing that immigration enforcement was not the focus of the mission.

The deployment also raises questions about training and optics, as ICE personnel are not typically trained for crowd control functions and their presence may intimidate travelers.

Additionally, Trump asked ICE personnel not to wear masks inside airports as part of the deployment, a directive that further distinguishes this operation from standard enforcement activities but raises concerns about identification and transparency.

The airport crisis has created severe disruption for travelers, with some passengers facing extraordinary wait times and airlines implementing contingency measures to cope with the ongoing chaos.

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At George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, travelers faced waits of up to six hours as security lines stretched across three floors, starting in a subway corridor in the basement and running past baggage claim.

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At Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, security lines spilled outside the terminal, creating dangerous conditions for passengers.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that if workers miss another paycheck, 'the current problems will look like child's play,' indicating the situation could deteriorate further.

Some airports have stopped posting live wait times altogether because the figures are changing too rapidly, with Atlanta officials instead warning passengers to prepare for waits of up to four hours.

Other airports severely impacted include JFK in New York, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International and Pittsburgh International.

Delta Air Lines has suspended its airport escorts and other special services for members of Congress and their staff because of the ongoing crisis, reflecting the escalating nature of the disruption.

Travelers are advised to monitor official sources including the MyTSA app, airport websites, and airline communications for the most current information on checkpoint status and flight delays.