GOP excludes ICE enforcement in DHS funding plan, leaving TSA workers unpaid and airports strained

Across the United States, the partial Homeland Security funding stalemate has left TSA workers unpaid and morale strained as callouts rise, with more than 480 officers quitting nationwide and staffing shortages threatening security operations.

““We waited three hours in Denver,” Chipman said”

Albuquerque Journal

Air travelers are facing the TSA’s highest wait times ever, reflecting the systemic strain on screening throughput during the shutdown.

Albuquerque Journal

Analysts warn that smaller airports could be forced to shutter or scale back operations if the impasse continues.

Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, along with other major hubs, is emblematic of the congestion, with immigration enforcement and crowd-management measures deployed at some sites as the crisis deepens.

In Houston, passengers spent hours Tuesday navigating meandering security lines at George Bush Intercontinental.

Terminal A South checkpoint waits reached about 240 minutes (four hours) and Terminal E around 180 minutes in some periods.

Associated Press News

ICE agents have been deployed to assist at IAH and neighboring William P. Hobby Airport, though they do not conduct screening.

Travelers were urged to arrive earlier as the backlog persisted.

The latest GOP proposal would fund most of DHS but not the enforcement and removal operations of ICE.

“Neither Republican senators, who made the latest offer, nor Democrats, who are demanding more changes in immigration enforcement, appeared closer to a compromise”

Chattanooga Times Free Press

While the plan would provide money for other aspects of ICE as well as CBP, it would exclude ICE's removal operations.

Senate Democrats said they needed to see real changes, while House leaders pressed for bold reforms at ICE.

Some lawmakers also pointed to new restraints on immigration officers, including the use of body cameras, as part of any final package.

Videos show lines filling airports and, at times, stretching outside the buildings as wait times hit record highs.

Some travelers reported missed flights and long delays, with airlines offering waivers or flexible rebooking to accommodate disruptions.

Devdiscourse

The dispersion of delays and lines is not uniform, with some locations experiencing heavier backlogs than others, creating a patchwork of experiences for travelers nationwide.

Airport-level reporting and crowd-management measures have become part of the normal response as the shutdown drags on.

The latest funding proposals have highlighted a tension between restoring broad agency funding and enforcing immigration controls.

“Travelers across the country are facing extraordinary delays at airport security checkpoints, with some waiting more than four hours just to get through screening, according to testimony delivered on Capitol Hill”

IJR

Officials emphasize the need to reopen DHS and resume payroll to prevent further disruption in screening capacity.

IJR

News coverage underscores the urgency of resolving the stalemate, especially during peak travel periods and major events.

The long-term consequences of inaction include continued strain on airport operations and potential security vulnerabilities as staffing remains unreliable.