Trump threatens to send ICE to airports if DHS shutdown doesn't end; Musk offers to cover TSA pay

In a bold move, President Donald Trump has threatened to deploy federal immigration officers to U.S. airports unless Democrats in Congress agree to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, "I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Security like no one has ever seen before." This announcement comes as the Trump administration faces significant backlash for its strict deportation policies involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents. Trump emphasized that the presence of ICE agents at airports would lead to the arrest of undocumented immigrants, particularly targeting individuals from Somalia. He further indicated plans to mobilize these agents by Monday, urging them to "GET READY." The White House and DHS have not commented on this matter. In a related development, a bipartisan group of senators held discussions with DHS border chief Tom Homan regarding additional immigration enforcement compromises proposed by the White House to resolve the ongoing shutdown. While the Senate is currently in session working on various legislative matters, the timeline for further discussions or votes on the new DHS funding proposal remains uncertain. Although the current DHS shutdown is less disruptive compared to last year’s protracted government closure, many essential employees are still required to work without pay. This situation is impacting U.S. airports, where the shortage of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents is leading to excessively long security lines and some agents opting to quit or call in sick. Last week, DHS employees missed their first full paychecks due to the funding lapse. In a separate commentary, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and a former advisor to Trump, offered to cover the salaries of TSA personnel affected by the shutdown. He expressed his willingness to help those whose lives are being disrupted at airports nationwide due to the ongoing funding dispute. The average salary of TSA agents ranges from $46,000 to $55,000, making Musk’s offer significant, although the logistics of such an arrangement remain unclear. Historically, there have been instances where private donors have stepped in to alleviate pay shortfalls during government shutdowns, but such actions may raise legal questions regarding the Antideficiency Act, which restricts federal spending without congressional approval. As the situation unfolds, the impact on airport security and employee morale continues to grow.