ICE deployed to airports, but TSA works without pay

President Donald Trump deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to airports across the United States starting March 23. This is a measure to alleviate the several-hour wait times for security screening due to the partial government shutdown.

At an event in Memphis, Tennessee, President Trump said, "ICE is assisting Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents," and added that he would consider deploying the National Guard if necessary. But there is a fundamental imbalance in this situation. ICE agents are being paid normally, but TSA agents have not been paid for over a month.

Why is the salary situation different even though it is the same government agency?

The key to this difference lies in the Trump administration's 2025 large-scale tax and spending bill, the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act'. The bill provides for approximately $75 billion in funding to ICE over four years. That includes $45 billion for new immigration detention facilities and $30 billion to hire 10,000 new ICE employees and upgrade facilities.

On the other hand, TSA was included in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget negotiations, so no separate funding was secured. During the government shutdown, employees classified as essential workers are also required to come to work, but are not paid. Approximately 95% of TSA's 60,000 employees are classified as essential personnel.

The repercussions of this imbalanced situation are serious. During the shutdown, hundreds of TSA agents resigned and thousands more reported absence from work.

Where did this conflict begin?

The current partial government shutdown stems from the shooting deaths of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Preti in Minnesota by federal immigration agents. Democrats are demanding policy changes to the tactics of immigration enforcement agents following this incident.

The two parties have agreed on budgets for all government agencies except the Department of Homeland Security, but DHS budget negotiations have stalled. In the fall of 2025, a 43-day government shutdown occurred, the longest in U.S. history, and then-Homeland Security Secretary Christy Norm paid a $10,000 bonus to TSA agents who worked exemplary during the shutdown.

ICE reform demanded by the Democratic Party

Democratic leaders called for 10 measures to limit ICE tactics in a February letter to Republican congressional leaders. The key contents are as follows:

• A judicial warrant is required when entering private land.
• Mandatory display of agent name and identification number
• Prohibition of crackdowns near hospitals, schools, and churches
• No wearing of face coverings.
• Mandatory use of body cameras

On March 17, Border Administrator Tom Homan and White House Legislative Director James Braid proposed expanded use of body cameras, limited enforcement in hospitals and schools, and increased identification of agents. However, some Democratic Party lawmakers criticized this proposal as lacking effectiveness because it was not enacted.

Seeking a bipartisan solution

On March 21, the Democratic Party submitted a motion to provide separate funding for TSA, but it was rejected along party lines. Democrats also introduced a bill that would fund most of DHS, including TSA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the Coast Guard, but exclude ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

On the Republican side, Texas Senator Ted Cruz proposed splitting the DHS spending bill to immediately fund TSA. The logic is that ICE and CBP can then secure funds through a budget adjustment process that can bypass the Democratic Party's filibuster.

Future outlook [AI analysis]

The current situation can be seen as an example of how political conflict over U.S. immigration policy has a direct impact on the daily lives of ordinary citizens. As the essential public service of airport security has become a tool of political struggle, inconvenience to travelers and instability in the livelihood of security personnel are occurring simultaneously.

In the short term, airport security screening delays are likely to worsen as the departure of TSA agents accelerates. As the Easter and spring travel seasons approach, the issue could come under political pressure.

Two scenarios are expected in the mid to long term. First, this is a case where the two parties agree to provide separate funding for TSA due to public pressure. Second, it is a compromise plan in which the Democratic Party compromises some of its demands for ICE reform and instead pursues legislation.

However, as both parties show no signs of backing down from key issues, the possibility that the deadlock will continue for some time cannot be ruled out. This incident is expected to serve as an opportunity to once again expose the structural weaknesses in the way the U.S. government operates.