The National Guard could soon be deployed to U.S. airports.
Donald Trump saying in a Truth Social post on Wednesday that he is prepared to send troops if disruptions worsen, signaling a potential escalation in the federal response to mounting travel chaos.
“I may call up the National Guard for more help,” Trump wrote.
Military.com reached out for comment to the Department of Homeland Security, ICE and TSA regarding the scale of the deployment and whether any immigration enforcement is taking place inside airport terminals.
His administration is weighing the move as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are already deploying to airports nationwide to assist the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) with staffing shortages and long security lines, marking a new escalation that could bring military personnel into civilian travel hubs.
ICE Deployed to Airports Nationwide as TSA Crisis Deepens
Federal officials began deploying ICE and Homeland Security Investigations personnel on Monday to roughly 14 major airports, including John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport, as TSA operations strained under severe staffing shortages.
The deployment comes as TSA faces widespread absenteeism tied to missed paychecks during the ongoing Department of Homeland Security funding strain. Roughly 50,000 airport security officers are working without pay, while absentee rates reached nearly 12%—more than 3,400 officers—at the peak earlier this week. More than 480 officers have quit, according to federal data.
Officials said ICE agents are being used for support roles including crowd control and managing passenger flow in public areas, and are not being deployed behind security checkpoints.
The move marks an unusual use of immigration agents inside civilian travel hubs as travel demand remains high, with passenger volumes running about 5% above last year.
Even as operations continue, most TSA functions remain active because the majority of officers are considered essential personnel required to work during funding lapses.
National Guard deployments are typically carried out under state authority at the direction of governors, though the president can federalize those forces in certain circumstances.
Officials have not released details on how such a deployment would be structured, which airports could be involved, or what specific role Guard personnel would play.
Concerns Mount Over ICE Role
Criticism is growing over the use of ICE agents inside airports, with lawmakers and civil liberties advocates questioning whether immigration enforcement actions could take place in civilian travel spaces.
“Every time Donald Trump gets involved, he creates chaos for the American people,” New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, said in a statement on Sunday.
Sherrill also said sending “untrained ICE agents to staff our airports is not an acceptable solution.”
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) called for the removal of ICE agents from airports, saying Monday at Newark Liberty International Airport, “Fund TSA and get ICE the hell out of our airports.”
The deployment, initially described as a support role to assist TSA with crowd control and passenger flow, has fueled uncertainty about the scope of ICE’s authority and whether travelers could be subject to questioning or enforcement.
Staffing shortages at the TSA have strained airport security operations nationwide, with long lines and delays reported at major hubs.
The pressure has forced the federal government to pull personnel from other agencies, including ICE, to help stabilize airport operations.
The expanding response from ICE deployments to the possibility of National Guard support reflects growing concern that disruptions could worsen without additional manpower.
The current strain follows broader warnings that prolonged funding disruptions could impact travel operations, with TSA absenteeism rising as workers miss paychecks.
