Washington, March 31 (IANS) The White House on Monday blamed Democrats for a deepening crisis in US air travel, saying a funding lapse at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has led to staff shortages, long queues, and rising security risks at airports. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said “500 TSA officers quit their jobs” in recent weeks, while “thousands more were calling out sick at record rates due to the lack of pay”.She said the situation had pushed the aviation system “t…
Latest Transportation Security Administration News & Updates
Washington, March 30 (IANS) A prolonged funding standoff over the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has disrupted US airports, with officials warning of mounting strain as hundreds of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers quit and others call in sick during a partial government shutdown now in its 44th day. The White House on Sunday moved to ease the pressure by redirecting funds to pay TSA workers, but the political deadlock shows no sign of resolution, with US Congress away…
Washington, March 29 (IANS) Indian-American Congressman Suhas Subramanyam said on Sunday that the ongoing shutdown crisis is hurting Americans and blamed House Republicans for blocking a bipartisan Senate deal that could have eased airport disruptions. Subramanyam said the Senate proposal had support across party lines and could have passed in the House if brought to a vote.”It was a deal that the Senate Republicans passed unanimously, with House Democrats willing to support it,” he said, adding…
Washington, March 29 (IANS) A funding standoff has disrupted US airports, with thousands of federal workers unpaid, as White House border czar Tom Homan said Transportation Security Administration (TSA) staff will only be paid “as soon as Congress opens up the government and funds the Department of Homeland Security”. Speaking to CNN on Sunday, Homan said efforts were underway to ensure TSA workers receive pay soon, but stressed that a broader resolution depends on the US Congress.”As soon as Co…
Washington, March 24 (IANS) The US Senate has confirmed Senator Markwayne Mullin’s nomination for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary, replacing embattled Kristi Noem, amid the department’s continued shutdown.The upper chamber voted 54-45 to approve 48-year-old Mullin, who has served in the Senate since 2023, following a decade in the House representing the state of Oklahoma. One Republican senator voted against the nomination, and two Democrats supported it.Mullin’s nomination, anno…
Washington, March 24 (IANS) US President Donald Trump urged Republicans to link voter identification and proof-of-citizenship requirements to a key Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill, escalating a political standoff with Democrats over airport disruptions and border security.Speaking at a roundtable in Memphis, Trump said lawmakers should not approve any deal unless it includes what he called the “SAVE America Act”. “Don’t make any deal on anything unless you include vote…
Washington, March 23 (IANS) Long security lines and growing passenger frustration hit major US airports as the Trump administration moved to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to help ease pressure on the Transportation Security Administration during the Department of Homeland Security shutdown.White House border czar Tom Homan told CNN that ICE agents would begin deploying to airports on Monday and would assist with security at entrances and exits to reduce TSA’s burden as staf…
Washington, March 22 (IANS) Air travel across the United States is facing growing disruption as a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has affected airport security operations, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warning of worsening delays and staff shortages.In an interview on ABC News’ This Week with George Stephanopoulos, Duffy said the situation could deteriorate further in the coming days.“I do think it’s going to get much worse,” he said, pointing to …
Washington, March 22 (IANS) US President Donald Trump threatened to deploy Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to provide security at airports amid an ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which has dragged on for more than a month and left regular security personnel going unpaid.Trump wrote on Truth Social that if Democrats did not “immediately sign an agreement,” “I will move our brilliant and patriotic ICE Agents to the Airports where they will do Securit…
New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Saturday said he is willing to pay the salaries of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel amid an ongoing funding impasse in the US that is affecting airport operations.Taking to social media platform X, Musk said, “I would like to offer to pay the salaries of TSA personnel during this funding impasse that is negatively affecting the lives of so many Americans at airports throughout the country.”The remark comes at …