Iran War and DHS Shutdown Combine to Drive U.S. Air Travel Disruptions and Higher Fares as Trump Links DHS Funding to SAVE America Act
U.S. air travel is facing widespread disruptions and higher fares this spring as fallout from the Iran war and a partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown have combined to strain airports and reduce TSA staffing, leaving officers unpaid since mid‑February and prompting resignations and call‑outs. With ICE agents deployed to assist TSA in non‑screening duties amid long security lines, former President Trump is demanding that any DHS funding deal be tied to his SAVE America Act — including proof‑of‑citizenship voter ID provisions he frames as part of homeland security.
📌 Key Facts
- A partial government shutdown is ongoing and has disrupted DHS operations, including TSA pay.
- TSA officers have been unpaid since mid‑February, leading to resignations and call‑outs that have reduced staffing and contributed to long airport security lines.
- The administration moved from proposal to active implementation of deploying ICE agents to assist TSA at U.S. airports.
- ICE agents were deployed (reported Monday) to help manage crowds and perform non‑screening duties as a stopgap to maintain airport security throughput during the shutdown.
- CBS (network) verified that ICE is now part of the temporary measures to sustain airport operations during the shutdown.
- At a Memphis law‑enforcement roundtable, President Trump insisted Republicans "don’t make any deal on anything" to fund DHS unless the package includes the SAVE America Act requiring proof of citizenship to vote, and said he wanted to merge DHS funding with the SAVE America Act into "the great, big, beautiful bill," framing voter ID/proof of citizenship as part of homeland security.
📊 Relevant Data
In the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which includes ICE, the workforce demographics as of 2023 show 51.7% White (non-Hispanic), 22.8% Hispanic or Latino, and 16.7% Black or African American employees, compared to U.S. population percentages of approximately 60% White, 19% Hispanic, and 13% Black.
Nearly 30% of ICE agents are Latino, outnumbering Black agents 2 to 1 and Asian agents by 4 to 1, based on 2020 data that remains relevant through 2023.
New Study Explores Why US Latinos Join ICE and Border Patrol — Latino Rebels
During the 2025 government shutdown, TSA experienced a more than 25% increase in officer separations compared to the previous year, with around 1,100 officers leaving in October and November 2025.
Oversight Hearing – Potential DHS Shutdown Impacts — TSA.gov
Black workers are disproportionately impacted by government shutdowns because they comprise a large portion of the federal workforce, with effects including missed paychecks for essential roles in agencies like DHS.
Partial Government Shutdown Looms as Battle Over DHS Funding Continues — Capital B News
The U.S. immigrant population grew by more than 2.4 million people from 2023 to 2024, representing about 5% growth, with significant increases from South and Central America.
Frequently Requested Statistics on Immigrants and Immigration in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Trump used a Memphis law‑enforcement roundtable to insist that Republicans "don’t make any deal on anything" regarding DHS funding unless it includes the SAVE America Act requiring proof of citizenship to vote.
- He described his goal as merging DHS funding with the SAVE America Act into "the great, big, beautiful bill" and said voter ID and proof of citizenship are parts of homeland security.
- Fox reiterates that ICE agents were deployed to airports Monday to assist TSA in managing crowds and non‑screening duties amid unpaid TSA staff and long security lines.
- Confirms that the administration’s plan to send ICE agents to assist TSA at airports has moved from proposal to active implementation.
- Reinforces that TSA officers have been unpaid since mid‑February, leading to resignations and call‑outs that necessitated ICE support.
- Provides a mainstream network TV verification that ICE is now part of the stopgap for maintaining airport security throughput during the shutdown.