Homan non-committal on ICE airport pullback as TSA pay to resume

WASHINGTON, DC: White House border czar Tom Homan signaled uncertainty over whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel will withdraw from US airports, even as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are expected to begin receiving delayed pay under a new executive order.

“We’ll see,” Homan said, indicating that any decision to scale back ICE deployments would depend on how quickly TSA staffing stabilizes.

Speaking on CNN’s ‘State of the Union’, he stressed that authorities are still assessing operational needs at airports grappling with severe workforce shortages.

The remarks come at a critical juncture, as the federal government attempts to restore normalcy after weeks of disruption triggered by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding impasse.

Staffing uncertainty clouds timeline for ICE withdrawal

Homan made clear that the continued presence of ICE agents at airports hinges on the return of unpaid TSA officers.

“It depends how many TSA agents come back to work. How many have actually quit and have no plan to return?” he said, adding that he is coordinating closely with TSA leadership and ICE officials to determine requirements on a case-by-case basis.

The deployment of ICE agents, initially introduced as a stopgap measure, was designed to ease pressure on TSA staff, many of whom had been working without pay for weeks.

ICE personnel have largely been tasked with auxiliary roles such as managing queues and guarding exits, freeing trained TSA officers to focus on security screening.

However, the plan has drawn criticism from unions and lawmakers who argue that ICE agents lack the specialised training required for aviation security.

Pay relief expected, but timing still fluid

On the question of when TSA officers can expect relief, Homan said discussions with DHS leadership are ongoing, with a target of disbursing pay as early as Monday or Tuesday.

“I talked to Secretary Markwayne Mullin yesterday. There is a plan to get these TSA agents paid hopefully by tomorrow or Tuesday,” he said.

The move follows an executive order by President Donald Trump directing that TSA workers be paid immediately, using available federal funds tied to DHS operations.

While the administration has expressed optimism, the timeline remains uncertain as Congress continues to remain deadlocked on a broader funding agreement and has adjourned for a two-week recess.

Shutdown fallout continues to disrupt airports

The prolonged funding lapse has taken a heavy toll on airport operations nationwide. Thousands of TSA officers have either quit or failed to report to work, leading to extensive delays and long security lines at major travel hubs.

At some airports, absentee rates reportedly surged as high as 40%, forcing authorities to deploy ICE agents to maintain basic functionality and prevent system collapse.

Although the resumption of pay is expected to improve staffing levels, experts warn that recovery will not be immediate.

Training new TSA officers can take several months, and rebuilding workforce capacity may lag behind demand, particularly during peak travel periods.