Trump opposes DHS deal as 4-hour TSA wait times sting Atlanta, Houston airports.

President Donald Trump has expressed strong opposition to any deal Republican lawmakers might make to end the partial government shutdown, stating he is 'pretty much not happy with it' regarding ongoing Senate negotiations to fund the Department of Homeland Security and restore pay to Transportation Security Administration officers.

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This shutdown, which began on Valentine's Day February 14, has left TSA officers designated as essential workers without pay, leading to significant staffing shortages that have crippled airport security operations nationwide.

Associated Press

The situation has created a crisis as thousands of TSA agents have either quit or called out sick due to financial hardship, with more than 458 officers quitting altogether since the shutdown began and call-out rates at major airports reaching up to 42%.

Trump's stance comes as the government remains in a standoff over DHS funding, with Senate votes failing to advance legislation that could resolve the crisis and get federal workers their paychecks.

The airport chaos has reached critical levels at major hubs across the country, with particularly severe disruptions at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

At Atlanta's main airport, the call-out rate reached 37.4% on Monday, while Houston's two airports saw even higher rates with William P. Hobby Airport at 40.3% and George Bush Intercontinental at 36.1%.

Forbes

These staffing shortages have resulted in security wait times exceeding four hours, with passengers reporting chaotic scenes and missed flights.

One Reddit user described waiting in line for five hours and missing their flight, while another reported lines extending 'all the way out to the parking garage.'

The airports have responded by suspending line-skipping privileges for members of Congress and advising passengers to 'allow at least 4 hours or more' to clear security, with some airports like Houston warning that 'missed flights possible' due to the unprecedented delays.

In response to the growing crisis, President Trump has deployed hundreds of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to assist at airports, with border czar Tom Homan stating there will be more officers sent to airports.

“Topline President Donald Trump suggested Tuesday he won’t be happy with any deal Republican lawmakers make to end the partial government shutdown and restore pay to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers who have been calling out of work in record numbers, which has led to long security wait times for airline passengers”

Forbes

Federal officers in green tactical vests were spotted working alongside TSA agents at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, with one officer's vest identifying him as ICE personnel.

However, the move has sparked controversy and concern from TSA workers themselves, with three officers speaking anonymously to Forbes expressing resentment at seeing 'unqualified' ICE workers 'walking the airports' and 'not helping TSA' while their colleagues face financial hardship.

Civil rights and immigrant advocacy groups have also raised concerns about ICE's increased presence at airports, with the American Civil Liberties Union advising travelers to 'know their rights' and directing them to resources about their rights when encountering immigration agents at airports.

Trump framed the deployment as necessary to bolster TSA efforts and minimize disruptions, claiming Democrats are 'endangering the USA by holding back the money that was long ago agreed to with signed and sealed contracts.'

The widespread travel disruptions have had significant impacts on passengers and airlines alike, with travelers experiencing unprecedented delays and missed flights.

Industry experts are advising passengers to build extra buffer time into their travel plans and check airport websites and social media feeds regularly for real-time updates, as conditions can change quickly.

Time Magazine

Some airports have stopped updating their TSA wait time information on the MyTSA app during the shutdown, making it even more challenging for travelers to plan.

Airlines have responded by offering flexible rebooking options and waiving fare differences for affected passengers. Delta Air Lines, for instance, suspended line-skipping privileges for members of Congress and waived the fare difference for eligible passengers flying out of Atlanta on Monday and Tuesday.

The economic impact extends beyond individual travelers, as the disruptions affect business travel, tourism, and potentially airline revenue during the crucial spring travel season.

Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport even went so far as to advise travelers to find a bathroom before getting in line, warning that the subway tunnel where lines might extend 'does not have restrooms or food options,' highlighting the extreme nature of the current situation.