Trump Suggests He 'May Call Up the National Guard' to Assist ICE at Airports

President Donald Trump said he is considering deploying the National Guard to U.S. airports to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, as travel disruptions mount during an ongoing Department of Homeland Security funding lapse.

In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump blamed Democrats for the situation and praised ICE agents already deployed to airports. "They want our Country to fail... Thank you to our great ICE Patriots for helping. It makes a big difference," he wrote. "I may call up the National Guard for more help."

The remark follows comments on Monday in which Trump signaled openness to using military support if needed. "If that's not enough, I'll bring in the National Guard," he said referring to ICE's role in assisting with long airport lines.

ICE agents have been deployed to major airports across the country, including Chicago O'Hare, where local officials said they would perform non-screening tasks such as managing queues, monitoring exit lanes and making announcements.

Border czar Tom Homan described the effort as "a work in progress," adding that agents would not handle specialized screening duties. "I don't see an ICE agent looking at an X-ray machine, because we're not trained in that," he said.

The deployments come as Transportation Security Administration staffing shortages, driven in part by unpaid workers during the funding impasse, have led to extended wait times at airports in cities including Atlanta, Houston and New York. Airlines have warned of delays, and some services for government officials have been suspended as the situation persists.

Inside federal agencies, however, the rollout has been marked by uncertainty. One Department of Homeland Security source told CBS News on Monday that he had "no idea what we're doing," reflecting confusion over how the ICE deployment would be implemented.

Labor groups and aviation officials have raised concerns about the use of ICE personnel in airport operations, noting that agents are not trained or certified in aviation security. Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, said TSA workers "deserve to be paid, not replaced by untrained, armed agents."