Homeland Security and TSA

Axios reports that U.S. air travelers face a 'spring of hell' as President Trump’s Iran war and a partial DHS shutdown converge to drive up costs and strain security. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby says jet fuel prices have more than doubled in the last three weeks and that United is planning for oil to reach $175 a barrel and stay above $100 until the end of 2027, signaling sustained fare increases tied to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. At the same time, TSA officers are working unpaid and about to miss a second paycheck, with many calling out or quitting, prompting multi‑hour security lines and aviation security expert Jeffrey Price warning that the system is close to a 'breaking point' and that closures of smaller airports are a real risk. In response, Trump is sending ICE agents to hard‑hit airports to guard exits and check IDs — despite their lack of screening training — and has publicly floated bringing in the National Guard if that fails, a move that is already raising civil‑liberties and competence concerns. The article also notes renewed safety fears after a fatal LaGuardia runway collision that killed two pilots even though both the plane and fire truck were cleared onto the same runway, underscoring broader worries about controller workload in an overstressed aviation system.