Trump Threatens ICE Agents for Airport Security Amid Shutdown
US President Donald Trump threatened to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports if Democrats do not resolve a budget standoff, leaving TSA staff unpaid since February. Trump announced on Truth Social that ICE agents would provide airport security 'like no one has ever seen before' if funding negotiations fail. Hours later, he reiterated the plan for Monday deployment. Tech billionaire Elon Musk offered to cover TSA salaries during the shutdown, which has forced 65,000 employees to work without pay. The agency's annual payroll is estimated at $2.5-$3 billion. Democrats oppose new DHS funding until ICE raid policies change after violent confrontations in social media videos. More than 300 TSA employees have quit since February 14, with airports warning passengers of long lines. Trump previously fired Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem after ICE raids in Minneapolis killed two Americans.