By LISA MASCARO and JOEY CAPPELLETTI Associated Press
Updated
Senators are racing to clinch a proposal to end the Homeland Security shutdown. The potential breakthrough in the monthlong standoff comes as airports experience long wait times. Democrats have refused to fund the Department of Homeland Security unless it made changes to its immigration and deportation operations. But unpaid Transportation Security Administration workers are failing to show up for shifts and at least 458 have quit altogether. Asked about the emerging deal Tuesday, President Donald Trump says he's not happy with any deal. The deal would impose some of the restraints Democrats have demanded on immigration operations. Senate Majority Leader John Thune says it's time to end the standoff.
Armed federal immigration officers in tactical gear moved through terminals at some of the busiest U.S. airports Monday, standing near security lines and checkpoints after President Donald Trump ordered their deployment during a partial government shutdown that has disrupted air travel nationwide. The officers weren't making arrests or screening passengers. The Trump administration vaguely said they would supplement Transportation Security Administration staffing at certain airports. But after a year of intensified immigration enforcement and protests in cities across the country, their appearance at airport checkpoints has unsettled some travelers and raised new questions about how far their presence might extend.
Storms sweeping across the eastern half of the country are disrupting air travel across the United States. FlightAware reported more than 3,500 flights canceled Monday and about 6,300 others delayed. The storms already dumped heavy snow across parts of the Midwest and were moving toward the East Coast with strong winds and the threat of tornadoes. The travel disruptions come during a busy period for airports, with spring break vacations and fans traveling for March Madness games. Meanwhile, a partial government shutdown affecting the Transportation Security Administration has stretched staffing at some airport security checkpoints, leading to longer lines in some places.
Some of the nation's busiest airports saw hourslong security lines this weekend, as the partial government shutdown begins to hit air travel. Most checkpoints use federal TSA screeners, who must work without pay during shutdowns. San Francisco International Airport, however, uses a private screening contractor under TSA oversight, which keeps lines moving. Some experts say the model deserves a closer look as a way to protect airport security operations during lapses in funding. But the TSA union warns privatization could cut pay and protections for workers and introduce security risks. Travel industry groups are pushing another solution. They say Congress should pass legislation to keep aviation workers paid during shutdowns.
Another shutdown for parts of the federal government is expected this weekend. Funding for the Department of Homeland Security is set to expire Saturday as lawmakers debate new restrictions on President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement agenda. The White House has been negotiating with the Democrats, but the two sides failed to reach a deal by the deadline. Unlike the record 43-day shutdown last fall, the closures will be narrowly confined, as only agencies that are part of Homeland Security will be affected. Still some federal workers could begin to miss paychecks and services like airport screening could be affected if the shutdown drags on for weeks.
By KEVIN FREKING, MARY CLARE JALONICK and SEUNG MIN KIM Associated Press
Homeland Security officials are highlighting the potential impact of a shutdown. Among the concerns are delayed reimbursements to states for disaster relief costs and missed paychecks for the agents that screen passengers and bags at the nation's airports. Congress has provided full-year funding for the vast majority of the federal government, but it only passed a short-term funding patch for the Department of Homeland Security that extends through Friday. Democrats have insisted that any funding bill for the department come with changes to immigration enforcement operations. But Republicans are emphasizing that a Homeland Security shutdown would not curtail the work of the agencies Democrats are most concerned about.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's daughter says she had an "absurdly invasive" pat-down at an airport security checkpoint on Thursday. She said in a series of posts on X that she opted out of the body scanner because she's pregnant and concerned about radiation exposure. Evita Duffy-Alfonso claims TSA agents were rude and tried to pressure her to use the scanner, and she suggested her father would limit or eliminate the agency if he could. The TSA says it's aware of her complaint and takes such issues seriously. Duffy's Transportation Department is responsible for overseeing federal transportation projects and setting safety regulations for travel, including air travel. But TSA is under the control of Homeland Security.
Travelers this Thanksgiving may still feel on edge after the historic government shutdown that caused widespread flight cancellations and delays. But experts say staying informed about weather, traffic, and airport wait times can help ease anxiety. The FAA is preparing for its busiest Thanksgiving in 15 years, with over 360,000 flights scheduled. And the TSA expects to screen more than 17.8 million people. Winter weather could impact major airports, so travelers should check forecasts regularly. Packing smartly and arriving early can also reduce stress. For road trips, AAA advises checking your car and avoiding peak traffic times.
For the first time in almost 20 years, travelers may no longer have to take off their shoes during security screenings at certain U.S. airports. The Transportation Security Administration is looking to abandon the requirement, according to media reports. If implemented, it would put an end to a security screening mandate put in place almost 20 years ago, several years after "shoe bomber" Richard Reid's attempt to take down a flight from Paris to Miami in late 2001. Travel newsletter Gate Access was first to report that the security screening change is coming, with ABC News citing an internal memo sent to TSA officers last week that states the new policy lets travelers keep their shoes on during screenings at many U.S. airports beginning on Sunday.
Most airports around the United States operated smoothly as new REAL ID requirements took effect because travelers without the updated document were still allowed to move through security easily. Those without the IDs were given flyers informing them that going forward they would need to present "REAL ID or other acceptable form of identification for your next flight or you may expect delays." REAL ID requirements for those flying within the U.S. began Wednesday after more than 20 years of delays. Many airports reported security checkpoint wait times of a few minutes on their websites.
