President Donald Trump announced Sunday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will be deployed to airports to assist with security operations as Transportation Security Administration staffing shortages continue to cause long delays.

The move comes as TSA agents have been working without pay for more than a month amid a funding lapse, leading to increased absenteeism and extended wait times at airports across the country.

“On Monday, ICE will be going to airports to help our wonderful TSA Agents who have stayed on the job despite the fact that the Radical Left Democrats, who are only focused on protecting hard line criminals who have entered our Country illegally, are endangering the USA by holding back the money that was long ago agreed to with signed and sealed contracts, and all,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

According to the president, the decision is intended to help reduce wait times, which have reached several hours in some locations as TSA staffing levels decline.

Trump's Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?

Officials have reported that some agents have left their posts or called out sick due to the lack of pay.

Trump acknowledged that the plan may face criticism.

“But watch, no matter how great a job ICE does, the Lunatics leading the incompetent Dems will be highly critical of their work,” Trump said, adding, “THEY WILL DO A FANTASTIC JOB.”

Border Czar Tom Homan will oversee the operation, according to the president. Homan addressed the plan during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union,” where he outlined how ICE personnel could be used in airport settings.

FREE Gun Law Map: Laws Don't Pause During Social Unrest

“I don’t see an ICE agent looking at an x-ray machine – because you’re not trained in that – [but] there are certain parts of security that TSA is doing that we can move them off those jobs and put them in the specialized jobs to help move those lines,” Homan said.

“We’ll put together a plan today, and we’ll execute tomorrow,” he added.

Homan said discussions are ongoing regarding the number of agents who will be deployed, noting, “We’re going to do what we can to help TSA move people through the line.”

Airport travelers across the country have experienced long security lines in recent days.

On Sunday, wait times approached three hours at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, about two hours at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, and more than an hour at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.

At JFK, even TSA PreCheck lines appeared stalled and extended beyond regular screening checkpoints.

At LaGuardia Airport, passengers encountered nearly two-hour wait times, with lines at Terminal B stretching into parking areas.

In New Jersey, wait times at Newark Liberty International Airport ranged from five minutes to more than 30 minutes depending on the terminal.

At Philadelphia International Airport, early morning lines extended as far as the Marriott hotel on airport grounds.

“I have never seen a line this long in Philly,” Reuters reporter Jarrett Renshaw wrote on X.

The TSA workforce, which includes roughly 50,000 agents, has continued operating without pay during the funding lapse, now in its 36th day.

Reports indicate that thousands of employees have called in sick since Feb. 14, and more than 400 have left their positions.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the situation may worsen as additional missed paychecks approach.

“I think you’re going to see more TSA agents, as we come to Thursday, Friday, Saturday of next week, they’re going to quit or they’re not going to show up,” Duffy said during an interview on ABC’s “This Week.”

“So I do think it’s going to get much worse,” he added.

Unlike TSA, ICE received funding through last summer’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, allowing the agency to continue operations during the current funding gap.

The plan has drawn criticism from Democratic leaders. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) expressed concerns about deploying ICE agents to airport settings.

“The last thing the American people need are untrained ICE agents at airports all across the country, potentially to brutalize or, in some instances, kill them,” Jeffries said on “State of the Union.”

Jeffries also criticized broader funding decisions related to DHS.

“It’s unfortunate that Republicans have decided that they would rather force TSA agents to work without pay, inconvenience millions of Americans all across the country, and now potentially expose them to untrained ICE agents and create chaos at airports throughout the land, rather than get ICE agents under control,” he said.

The funding dispute centers on broader disagreements over immigration enforcement policy.

Democrats have pushed for changes including expanded oversight of ICE operations, limits on enforcement near certain locations, and requirements for identification and conduct.

The White House has indicated support for some proposed measures, including expanding the use of body-worn cameras and increasing oversight of detention facilities.

However, negotiations remain ongoing as both sides continue to debate funding and policy conditions tied to the Department of Homeland Security.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Objectivist. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.