Shutdown Shock: US Faces Longest Government Closure Ever
US faces shutdown chaos as airport delays surge amid TSA staffing crisis. Lawmakers clash over DHS funding while travel disruptions worsen nationwide.
The partial U.S. government shutdown has become the longest in American history, as lawmakers in Washington continue to clash over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
On Sunday, the shutdown reached its 44th day, surpassing the previous record for the longest funding gap—a gap that ended in November 2025.
This ongoing standoff has caused chaos at airports, as security checkpoints face a shortage of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers who are currently not receiving their salaries.
Tom Homan, the White House's border czar, stated on Sunday that TSA agents should begin receiving their paychecks early next week, as President Donald Trump has signed an order in an effort to release the necessary funds.
However, it remains unclear whether Trump's executive order will face legal challenges, given that—under the U.S. Constitution—the authority to authorize federal government spending rests with Congress.
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Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday evening, Trump said he was "prepared to pay them [TSA agents] for as long as necessary," but he urged Congress to pass a funding bill.
Homan also told the BBC's U.S. news partner, CBS, that even after the shutdown ends and funding for the TSA is restored, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—who have currently been deployed to airports nationwide to assist with travel disruptions—will remain on-site "until the airports feel they are 100% back to normal."
"Look, we're going to maintain our presence there," he said on the CBS program *Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan*.
He noted that the duration of this deployment would depend on how many TSA agents return to work once they begin receiving their paychecks. "We have to keep those airports safe. ICE is there to assist our brothers and sisters at the TSA," Homan told CBS. "We will remain there for as long as they need us."
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However, there appears to be no end in sight to the ongoing battle between Republicans and Democrats over DHS funding; the DHS encompasses the TSA, immigration agencies, and the primary emergency agency responsible for responding to natural disasters. Congress is currently on a two-week recess and has left town without reaching any agreement.
On Friday, lawmakers failed to reach a compromise to reopen the DHS; the department has been shut down since February 14. Last week, the U.S. Senate passed a compromise measure that would have provided partial funding to the DHS and helped alleviate travel delays at airports. However, Republican members in the U.S. House of Representatives rejected this bill and instead voted to approve a short-term measure that would fully fund the department.
It is unlikely that the Senate will pass this short-term measure, as Democrats have opposed fully funding the department. The department oversees Trump's immigration agenda, and Democrats are demanding that certain reforms be implemented—such as banning the use of masks by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and prohibiting racial profiling—before providing funding.
However, Republican members in the House argue that they will not support any legislation that does not include funding for immigration enforcement and voter ID requirements.
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On Sunday, Trump once again appealed to Congress to pass a funding bill. When asked whether he would sign a measure that did not include funding for immigration agencies, he stated, "ICE is vital to the well-being of our country." He strongly criticized the Democrats and accused them of causing the shutdown.
Due to this standoff over immigration, TSA officers have found themselves trapped in a state of uncertainty. Some officers have quit their jobs, while others are not reporting for duty—citing illness as an excuse—because they are not receiving their paychecks. According to the DHS, approximately 500 officers have resigned so far.
As a result, security screening lines at airports have become extremely long, and passengers are facing significant delays. Videos of these lengthy passenger queues are going viral on social media, showing people standing in lines that snake around the buildings. These videos have heightened concerns regarding whether the U.S. will be able to effectively co-host the World Cup, which is set to begin in June.
According to the DHS, more than 3,560 TSA officers failed to report for duty on Friday. This figure represents 12.35% of the agency's total workforce.
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