Senate Pays TSA but Leaves ICE to Dream of Paychecks in 2026 Shutdown Saga
KEY POINTS
- •On March 27, the Senate passed a deal funding most of DHS, notably airport TSA workers, to end the partial shutdown.
- •The shutdown began February 14 after lawmakers failed to agree on immigration enforcement funding, impacting TSA, FEMA, and Coast Guard pay.
- •President Trump disapproved of the deal as it excluded the unrelated SAVE America Act, complicating Senate efforts to end the shutdown.
On March 27, the Senate bravely declared TSA's snack-less apocalypse over—well, almost. They funded the Department of Homeland Security just enough to pay TSA workers so Americans can resume sprinting through endless airport lines, while ICE and Border Patrol remain ghost employees, funding MIA. Since the shutdown slammed the brakes on February 14 (happy Valentine's Day, nothing like romantic unpaid TSA shifts!), over 480 TSA officers jumped ship or called in sick, causing 'highest wait times in TSA history.' Delta even grounded specialty Congress perks on March 24, politely reminding lawmakers their service isn’t exactly essential. Trump weighed in, unhappy with any deal that doesn’t bundle DHS with his unrelated SAVE America Act, adding presidential disapproval seasoning to this federal mess.
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(1 of 3)Funding TSA but not ICE is like ordering pizza but telling the delivery guy he’ll get paid next week. Somehow government shutdowns still outdo sitcom plot twists.
Congress has solved waiting lines by giving TSA their paychecks but ghosting ICE. Nothing says prioritizing safety like selective ghosting.
481 TSA workers quit and Congress acts like the real threat is long security lines, not the government’s rendition of 'Hold My Paycheck.'
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 3/27/2026 | Author: Katherine Li,Juliana Kaplan,Cheryl Teh
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