Airport Security Lines Surge: ICE Agents Deployed Amid Shutdown

Long security lines snarled travel across the United States on Monday, as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers continued to work without paychecks amid the ongoing partial government shutdown. At Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, travelers faced significant delays, with some waiting for nearly two hours to clear security, according to reports.

Andrew Leonard, a performing arts teacher traveling from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport to Seattle, described the scene as “insane,” noting the unusually long wait times despite frequent travel through the same terminal. He ultimately made it to his gate just before boarding his flight to Hawaii.

In response to the escalating delays, the Trump administration deployed agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to assist at several U.S. Airports. White House border czar Tom Homan announced the deployment Sunday, stating the agents would “facilitate TSA move those lines along” by guarding exit doors, freeing up TSA officers to focus on screening passengers. Homan emphasized that ICE agents would be assisting in areas not requiring the TSA’s specialized expertise.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) attributed the shutdown and resulting travel problems to Democrats in Congress, according to a statement provided to CNBC. The department stated that the shutdown had already led to over 400 TSA officers quitting and thousands calling out of work due to financial hardship, citing inability to afford necessities like gas, childcare, food and rent.

TSA’s more than 50,000 officers have been working without regular pay since the shutdown began in mid-February. The current impasse stems from Democratic demands for changes to federal immigration enforcement practices in exchange for releasing DHS funding, following the shooting deaths of two U.S. Citizens by officers in Minneapolis. The American Federation of Government Employees, the union representing TSA officers, reports hundreds of members have resigned since the shutdown began.

The disruptions extended beyond security lines. New York’s LaGuardia Airport was temporarily closed Monday morning following a collision between an Air Canada regional jet and an emergency vehicle the previous night. Some passengers opted to fly out of Kennedy Airport to avoid the disruptions at LaGuardia, further straining resources at that location.

Adding to the chaos, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey experienced a short ground stop Monday morning after air traffic controllers evacuated the tower due to a burning smell emanating from an elevator.

This represents not the first time travel has been disrupted by government shutdowns. Similar disruptions occurred in early 2019 and late 2025, both ending shortly after air traffic controllers began experiencing higher-than-typical absences, though their pay was not affected by the current impasse.