Chaos continues this week in thenation's airportsas the partial government shutdown leaves thousands of TSA officers without pay for the sixth week.
As many as 40% of the TSA staffcalled out of their shiftsSunday at some of the country's busiest airports, leading to an unprecedented move byPresident Trumptodeploy federal immigration officersin at least 13 locations.
The wait times in line for TSA security checkpoints reached thelongest in historythis week.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were deployed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Monday, and were seenstanding outside the terminal, watching the long lines from balconies above the baggage claim and standing next to the unpaid TSA officers as they continued to work the lines. It was unclear what their supportive role was on Monday in Atlanta, but ICE officers at other airports were spotted handing out water to passengers as they waited or assisting line management.
The wait times during the day midweek were much shorter, in some cases reaching just 20 to 30 minutes at Hartsfield-Jackson, but they remained multiple hours long early in the morning as passengers arrived for their afternoon flights.
President Trump, at a Republican fundraising event, said the next step could be sending in the National Guard. Here's what we know.
'I may call up the National Guard'
In a post on Truth Social on Wednesday morning, the president said to "blame the Democratsfor 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. 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 continued.
Advertisement
During a fundraising event for congressional Republicans, Trumppraised ICEand said the officers were doing "an unbelievable job," and were responsible for bringing a 4-hour wait time down to 30 minutes.
"If we have to, we're going to send in the National Guard, if we need to," Trump said.
It's unclear what role the National Guard would play if ICE is already decreasing the TSA wait times as the president claims.
What are the wait times at Hartsfield-Jackson TSA?
According to the Atlanta airport website, officials are still giving a blanket four-hour wait time warning for all travelers, domestic and international. Wait times were no longer being displayed inside the airport as of Monday.
Videos posted on social mediafrom inside the airport show the longest wait times first thing in the morning as many passengers arrive four and five hours before their flights. Lines for TSA went out the doors of the terminals around 6 a.m. every day this week. There was a shorter wait a little later in the day, but as we approach the weekend, the wait times are expected to go back up, even with an ICE presence.
Officials recommend all travelers, no matter the day or time, arrive at the airport at least four hours before your flight out of Hartsfield-Jackson. Airlines are not required to provide a refund if you miss your flight by standing in abnormally long TSA lines.
Irene Wright is following the partial government shutdown's impact on TSA at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Find the Atlanta Connect reporter on X @IreneEWright or email her at ismith@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Trump says National Guard could be deployed to airports for TSA lines
