- DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin has warned that the department's funds will be depleted by the first week of May, impacting over $1.6 billion in bi-weekly payroll.
- The current government shutdown, the longest in US history, has resulted in severe understaffing, with around 100,000 employees facing delayed pay and 500 TSA officers already having resigned.
- This staffing crisis has caused extensive disruptions at major airports, including prolonged security queues at JFK and Hartsfield–Jackson, leading to passengers missing international flights.
- Donald Trump previously authorised temporary payments for TSA and DHS staff and has since proposed privatising the TSA to prevent future shutdowns.
- The White House's 2027 budget suggests privatising security at smaller airports, which could eliminate over 8,000 TSA positions and save an estimated $52 million, though Democrats oppose a full DHS reopening without changes to ICE enforcement.
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