Absences among transportation security workers reached their highest level since a partial government shutdown began five weeks ago, the Department of Homeland Security said on Sunday, as immigration enforcement agents prepared to fill in for them at some of the busiest U.S. airports.

Nationwide, about 11.5% of Transportation Security Administration staff were absent on Saturday, with the highest rates at major hubs: 42.4% at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, 33.4% at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and 33.6% at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Overall, more than 9% of TSA employees have been absent from work over the past seven days.

To help fill the staffing gaps, hundreds of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents will deploy to airports starting on Monday. DHS said it would not publicly share details about the deployment to preserve operational security, though sources briefed on the matter said the current plan calls for deploying ICE agents to 14 locations.

Tens of thousands of airport security personnel have been working without pay for weeks while congressional Democrats and Republicans argue over a budget for DHS. 'Many TSA officers cannot pay their rent, buy food, or afford to put gas in their cars — forcing them to call out sick from work,' a DHS spokesperson said.

What the Left Is Saying

Democrats have criticized the move, linking it to broader concerns about ICE operations following the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis earlier this year during protests against Trump's deportation surge.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told CNN his caucus is open to a separate funding agreement for TSA employees while lawmakers debate measures to 'get ICE under control.' 'We have an obligation to not fund an agency that is acting this lawlessly,' Senator Chris Murphy said on NBC's 'Meet the Press.'

The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents TSA workers, criticized Trump's decision. 'They deserve to be paid, not replaced by untrained, armed agents who have shown how dangerous they can be,' said Everett Kelley, the union's national president.

Progressives have argued that new rules are needed before any funding increases for immigration enforcement, citing the Minneapolis incident as evidence of agency overreach.

What the Right Is Saying

Trump announced on Saturday that ICE agents would be sent to airports unless Democratic lawmakers agree to fund DHS. The administration has framed the deployment as a practical solution to passenger delays.

Border czar Tom Homan said on CNN's 'State of the Union' that sending immigration agents to bolster short-staffed TSA teams will speed up airport lines. 'When we deploy tomorrow, we'll have a well thought-out plan to execute,' Homan said.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy argued ICE agents are qualified for the task. 'They know how to pat people down, they know how to run the X-ray machines,' Duffy said in separate interviews. Trump wrote on social media that 'ICE will do the job far better than ever done before!'

Republicans have blamed Democrats for refusing to fund DHS, which they say has created the staffing crisis. The party's position is that Democrats should accept immigration enforcement measures in exchange for keeping TSA officers paid.

What the Numbers Show

The staffing shortage data from DHS shows significant variation across airports. While national absence was 11.5% on Saturday, Houston's rate was nearly four times that figure at 42.4%. JFK and Atlanta both exceeded 33%.

The numbers represent the highest absence rates since the partial government shutdown began five weeks ago. Hundreds of TSA agents have resigned, according to their labor union.

TSA employees have now worked without pay for weeks during the budget stalemate. ICE agents, by contrast, have continued to receive pay through a separate funding provision while lawmakers debate whether to tie ICE funding to new rules and procedures.

The deployment involves hundreds of ICE agents across 14 airport locations, though that number may change. The cost and operational details have not been publicly disclosed.

The Bottom Line

The deployment of ICE agents to airports represents an unusual solution to a staffing crisis caused by the ongoing budget dispute. TSA workers are demanding back pay, while Democrats want immigration enforcement reforms before approving DHS funding.

ICE agents will not be deployed in areas behind security checkpoints because they lack the specific clearance needed. Questions remain about exactly what tasks they will perform, with Homan and Duffy offering different explanations.

Watch for congressional activity on a potential short-term funding measure. Jeffries indicated openness to a separate TSA funding bill, which could break the stalemate without addressing the broader immigration policy disagreements.