OPINION:
Transportation Security Administration officers are going without pay because of a Democratic-led partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (“TSA union blasts ICE airport deployment: ‘You cannot improvise that,’” March 22).
TSA is unfortunately caught in the crosshairs of congressional Democrats’ disdain for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This is a ridiculous way for the Democrats to try to punish President Trump because, thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, ICE is already well funded through fiscal year 2027.
This shutdown isn’t cutting funds to ICE; it is slashing them for every other agency under the DHS umbrella.
TSA should be split off from DHS and run privately. It can still have a close relationship with DHS, but it needs to be able to function through all political maneuvering. Domestic airlines and aviation authorities should create and fund a private agency to take over TSA. If they do, then government shutdowns will no longer wreak havoc on the industry.
The cost of such an endeavor would be negligible compared with lost revenue. Having the private sector take over also would help reduce the federal budget deficit.
The federal government should be a beacon of stability, but it becomes nothing but chaos as shutdowns and continuing resolutions make long-term planning near impossible.
We may not be able to solve the partisan games, but taking the TSA out of the crossfire will benefit millions of Americans and provide stability to the agents we rely on to keep our skies secure.
CHARLES DIXON
Alexandria, Virginia
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