Trump warns Democrats 'must pay a big price' at midterms as DHS shutdown guts airport security

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Wednesday, March 18, criticized Democrats over the ongoing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown, blaming them for disruptions at airports and warning of electoral consequences.

The partial shutdown, which began in mid-February after Congress failed to pass funding legislation, has affected several agencies under DHS, including airport security operations.

The funding lapse has led to staffing shortages at airports across the United States, with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers working without pay.

Lawmakers remain divided over immigration enforcement policies, which have been central to negotiations to reopen the department.

Trump warns of election consequences over DHS shutdown crisis

Trump took to social media to criticize Democrats, linking the shutdown to travel disruptions and urging political accountability.

“The Democrat’s purposeful DHS SHUTDOWN is causing chaos at the airports,” Trump said.

“These Lunatics are being totally unreasonable in their Radical Left asks. They are FULLY TO BLAME, and must pay a big price, for the good of our Country, in the Midterm Elections. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” he added.

His comments came as federal officials warned of worsening conditions at airports if the funding impasse continues.

The DHS oversees the TSA, which is responsible for airport screening operations, and officials say the agency is facing increasing strain due to staffing shortages.

According to DHS data, more than 300 TSA agents have resigned since the shutdown began, while callout rates have surged in several cities.

In Houston, callouts rose by more than 50% on certain days, while increases were also reported in New Orleans and Atlanta.

The highest reported single-day callout rate reached 55% at Houston Hobby International Airport, leaving significantly fewer officers available to screen passengers. As a result, travelers experienced longer wait times and delays at security checkpoints.

The acting deputy TSA administrator, Adam Stahl, warned in a recent interview that airports could “quite literally shut down” if funding is not restored.

He noted that TSA officers have been working without pay for weeks, contributing to attrition and absenteeism.

Political standoff continues as Democrats push back on claims

The funding impasse stems from disagreements over immigration enforcement policies.

Democrats have pushed for changes following the deaths of two US citizens in Minneapolis during a large-scale federal operation, prompting calls for increased oversight and reforms.

In response, the White House has outlined a set of proposals aimed at resolving the standoff. 

These include expanding the use of body cameras for federal agents, requiring clearer identification during enforcement actions, limiting operations in sensitive locations such as schools and hospitals, and increasing oversight of detention facilities.

The proposals also reaffirm that US citizens will not be subject to deportation.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said negotiations are ongoing, stating, “We’re on Day 33 of this Democrat-led shutdown of DHS. The White House has worked in good faith to re-open the Department. We’ve offered them multiple binding, substantive offers, and they have rejected every single one.”

The DHS oversees multiple federal agencies, including the TSA, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Secret Service, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, all of which have been affected to varying degrees by the funding lapse.