President Trump on Wednesday said he may send the National Guard to provide further assistance at airports amid the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown. “Blame the Democrats for the Airport’s mess. They want our Country to do badly. They want our Country to fail. They broke the already signed Bill because they want to take care of Criminals who enter our Country illegally, rather than American citizens,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Thank you to our great ICE Patriots for helping. It makes a big difference. I may call up the National Guard for more help,” he added. JUST IN – Trump considers calling in the National Guard to manage airport security amid partial DHS shutdown. pic.twitter.com/4vSarR0xoO — Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) March 25, 2026 Newsweek shared further: The partial DHS shutdown left TSA officers and other essential personnel working without pay, contributing to callouts and departures that slowed security screening at some of the nation’s busiest hubs, including Atlanta, New York, Newark, Houston, and New Orleans. The White House’s decision to deploy ICE to support TSA and the suggestion of bringing in the National Guard underscored the mounting strain on airport operations and the high-stakes political impasse in Washington. The moves drew criticism from lawmakers and unions concerned about training, optics, and mission creep in civilian aviation settings, as negotiations in Congress remained deadlocked over immigration enforcement reforms tied to DHS funding. The Trump administration sent ICE agents to over a dozen airports across the country. Here Are The Airports Where ICE Agents Will Help TSA In addition, Acting TSA Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill testified before Congress about the shutdown’s impact on the agency’s workers. Acting TSA Administrator Testifies Before Congress – Nearly 500 Employees Quit, Some Officers Resort To Selling Blood And Sleeping In Cars “Acting TSA Administrator Ms. Ha Nguyen McNeill testifies before Congress that TSA is currently suffering the longest wait times in agency history, with callout rates hitting 40-50% at some airports and more than 480 employees quitting since the shutdown began. McNeil testifies that TSA has been shut down for half of fiscal year 2026, and $1 billion in TSA paychecks will be missed if the shutdown isn’t ended by Friday,” Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin wrote. “She testified that to make ends meet, TSA officers have been selling blood and plasma and sleeping in their cars. Some have received eviction notices, missed bill payments and accrued late fees, damaged their credit, and have defaulted on loans, but are ‘still expected to perform at the highest level,'” he continued. BREAKING: Acting TSA Administrator Ms. Ha Nguyen McNeill testifies before Congress that TSA is currently suffering the longest wait times in agency history, with callout rates hitting 40-50% at some airports and more than 480 employees quitting since the shutdown began. McNeil… — Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) March 25, 2026 Fox News has more: Asked about the airport deployment during a pre-Air Force One press gaggle, Trump praised ICE for stepping in and said the agents "will do great." He then escalated the warning, saying, "And if that’s not enough, I’ll bring in the National Guard." "We're not going to have the Democrats destroy our country," Trump told reporters in an under-wing gaggle. "These people are the most destructive sick people, the Democrats." The U.S. Travel Association lashed out against Congress for failing to fund the Department of Homeland Security in a statement Monday shared with Fox News Digital. "There is a striking irony in Congress preparing to leave town for a two-week paid recess while TSA officers, the people who secure America’s travel system, face yet another $0 paycheck," the statement read. "Come Friday, if Congress fails to do its job and pass a DHS funding bill, they’ll head to the airports, get escorted to the front of the security line and be screened by the very TSA officers they failed to pay.