WASHINGTON — Over a month into the Democrat-led Department of Homeland Security shutdown, the largest independent pilots union in the United States is calling for Congress to end the shutdown and pay Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers.
“Congress must act immediately to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown and ensure TSA officers are paid,&#8221; Allied Pilots Association President First Officer Nick Silva said in a statement first obtained by The Daily Wire. &#8220;These dedicated professionals show up every day to protect the traveling public and maintain the safety of our National Airspace System.&#8221;
&#8220;Forcing them to work without pay is unsustainable and puts both efficiency and security at risk,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Supporting TSA is essential to keeping our aviation system safe, reliable, and moving.”
That statement comes after Airlines for America President and CEO Chris Sununu similarly called for an end to the shutdown on March 9, saying: &#8220;More than 2.7 million people cleared through TSA yesterday, but too many had to wait in extraordinarily long—and painfully slow—lines at checkpoints. It’s unacceptable to have wait times of 2 or 3 hours. And it’s unacceptable that TSA officers will have $0 in their paychecks this week.&#8221;
<div class="emphasis">
“It’s day 24 of this shutdown, and it is past time for Congress to get to the table and reach an agreement that reopens DHS,&#8221; he added. &#8220;Congress, do your job!”
</div>
Since the shutdown began, over thirty days ago, more than 300 TSA officers have quit their jobs, <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tsa-absences-double-shutdown-300-quit-airport-security-lines/">CBS News reports</a>. TSA officers have begun calling out at increasing rates, causing long security lines across the nation. Half the officers at Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas, have called out, according to CBS.
<div id="attachment_1063359" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pilots-dont-mince-words-as-they-issue-stark-warning-on-homeland-safety/hobby-airport-tsa-line-2" rel="attachment wp-att-1063359"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-1063359" class="wp-image-1063359 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2265600703-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2265600703-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2265600703-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2265600703-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/03/GettyImages-2265600703.jpg 1024w" sizes=" (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>Airline passengers wait in long lines to get through the TSA security screening at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Sunday, March 8, 2026.  (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)</div>
TSA statistics covered by the publication show that the nationwide callout rate rose to an average of 6% during this DHS shutdown, though that rate climbed to 9% on February 23 and 8% on March 6. That compares to the 2% callout rate before the shutdown began.
As the shutdown continues, officers are reporting that they are struggling to cover basic expenses, including rent and childcare, according to the Department of Homeland Security. One TSA officer faces eviction after missing his first full paycheck, and another, who is a cancer patient, is unable to keep up with insurance copays.
Some TSA officers are even sleeping in their cars at the airport, The Daily Wire has learned, in order to save on gas money and other costs while they continue to work without pay.
The surge in unscheduled absences is due in part to TSA officers taking second jobs to make ends meet, DHS shared. Many workers had not yet recovered from the last two shutdowns, since this is the third shutdown they have faced during the past 15 months.
According to the White House, over 100,000 DHS workers missed their full paychecks last week due to the shutdown, amounting to about $1 billion in unpaid wages each month. The White House says the shutdown has caused at least $2.5 billion in losses thus far.
At the same time, The Daily Wire reported on Monday, DHS staff who investigate terrorism are not being paid due to the ongoing, partial government shutdown – 80% of the Office of Intelligence &amp; Analysis is working without pay while they defend the United States on the home front, a Homeland Security spokesman told The Daily Wire.
That department is the primary office tracking terrorism and threats, and specializes in sharing intelligence and analysis to “identify and mitigate threats to the homeland.” A DHS spokesman told The Daily Wire that “Democrats are shamelessly playing politics with national security.&#8221;
“DHS shares timely and actionable intelligence from the intelligence community to state and local governments to ensure they are aware of any emerging threats to keep their communities safe,” the spokesman explained. “With major events such as America 250 and the World Cup coming up, along with the numerous threats our nation must be prepared for, DHS needs to be fully funded as soon as possible to ensure the safety and security of the homeland.”

US-POLITICS-SHUTDOWN-TSA

Pilots Don’t Mince Words As They Issue Stark Warning On Homeland Safety

Air Travel

Democrat

Department of Homeland Security

Pilots

U.S.

There was some movement in the talks to end the shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security on Monday, as Congressional Democrats sent another counteroffer to the White House, 18 days after the Trump administration sent theirs.
“Dems sent over a counteroffer late last night and White House is currently reviewing,” a White House official confirmed to The Daily Wire on background Tuesday afternoon.
The White House sent a letter to Sens. Katie Britt (R-AL) and Susan Collins (R-ME) on Tuesday outlining their own current offer, saying that the administration “will expand the use of body-worn cameras,” “limit civil immigration enforcement activities at certain sensitive locations” with a handful of exceptions, increase oversight of detention facilities, “enforce the use of visible officer identification” and other practices for officers who are not “undercover,” and “adhere to existing law and practice of not deporting any U.S. citizen and will convey current practice of not knowingly detaining a U.S. citizen, except when the person violates a state or federal law that makes the citizen subject to arrest.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
READ: Letter sent by WH to Senate on DHS shutdown.<a href="https://twitter.com/realDailyWire?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDailyWire</a>
Trump admin offers to 
-expand body cameras 
-limit civil enforcement at “sensitive locations” 
-increase detention facility oversight 
-“officer identification worn by officers will be clearly displayed.”
And… <a href="https://t.co/6ZUlypxco5">pic.twitter.com/6ZUlypxco5</a>
— Cameron Arcand (@cameron_arcand) <a href="https://twitter.com/cameron_arcand/status/2033992494426534366?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2026</a></blockquote>
“This offer is reasonable, it is serious, it is the product of work that has gone on since the shutdown began,” a senior White House official told reporters during an on-background call, saying that the latest offer from Democrats sent late Monday night “does not indicate the seriousness that this moment needs.”
Exact details of the Democrat&#8217;s counteroffer are unknown, but Democrats have publicly said for weeks that they want to see an end to several federal immigration enforcement tactics, including the end of masking for agents, and the end of roving patrols. The Democrats are also demanding the use of judicial warrants to make immigration-related arrests.
The demands and the shutdown came amid backlash to Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota earlier this year, including the shooting of Alex Pretti.
While Democrats have intended for the shutdown to serve as leverage for immigration reforms, ICE and Customs and Border Protection have already been funded primarily through the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” last year, which means that the current shutdown has largely impacted other agencies, including TSA, FEMA, and the Coast Guard.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) told reporters on Tuesday that Democrats think the shutdown is a “political winner for them” and that the White House “went above and beyond &#8230; any initial offers that they put out there.”
“I mean, I just, you know, even with respect to body cameras, there was $20 million in the bill, the original bill. There was $100 million in the proposal from the White House, to include audits by the inspector general, you know, and reviews for noncompliance,” he added.
Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) is considered the lead Republican negotiator on the issue for the caucus, but her office told The Daily Wire last week that Democrats have largely been uncooperative in the process.
Meanwhile, travelers are facing long lines at airports across the country as a result of the funding lapse. At least 300 TSA agents have quit, and many others have called out from the job as they are obligated to work without a paycheck. Many Senate Democrats have argued that Republicans are stopping bills that would fund other aspects of the department unrelated to immigration.
“Right now, we could be paying TSA agents, funding FEMA before the next disaster hits, protecting our cyber defenses, and making sure the Coast Guard gets paid. But Republicans said no,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in a statement last week.
“Democrats have tried—six separate times—to pass simple bills to keep these critical parts of DHS running while negotiations continue. Six times, Republicans came to the floor and blocked them. TSA officers shouldn’t miss paychecks, disaster relief shouldn’t be left hanging, and Americans’ safety shouldn’t be collateral damage in a political standoff Republicans created,” Schumer continued.
The ongoing shutdown, which kicked off in mid-February, comes at a time of transition for DHS, as Secretary Kristi Noem will be leaving her position on March 31, and Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) is President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the department next. When Noem’s exit was announced amid multiple controversies, Schumer said that her removal would not suffice to bring back full funding for DHS.
“The President has fired Kristi Noem—good riddance. But let’s be crystal clear: the problems at DHS go far beyond a personnel change,” Schumer stated on March 5. “Under this administration, Americans have seen devastating violence and reckless ICE actions that have shaken communities across the country. The rot runs deep. If the President wants accountability, he must do more than fire one official — he must end the violence and rein in ICE.”

Senators Speak Following Weekly Policy Luncheons On Capitol Hill

Dems Send 11th-Hour DHS Counteroffer In Shutdown Standoff — How Americans Could Pay Price

Congress

Government Shutdown

Immigration

Politics

White House

Airline CEOs are calling on Congress to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown as travelers face longer lines at the airport, and TSA agents are struggling to make ends meet while working without pay.
The department has faced a lapse in funding since Feb. 14 over a dispute regarding federal immigration enforcement policies. TSA, the Coast Guard, and FEMA are among the most heavily impacted agencies, as the Trump administration’s immigration agenda was already largely funded through the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” last year.
“Americans-who live in your districts and home states-are tired of long lines at airports, travel delays and flight cancellations caused by shutdown after shutdown,” the letter addressed to Congress said, which was signed by the CEOs of Alaska Air Group, American Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta, Southwest, Fedex, United, JetBlue, and UPS, as well as Airlines for America President and CEO Chris Sununu. The letter was first published in The Washington Post, according to a <a href="https://www.airlines.org/news/airline-ceos-open-letter-to-congress-published-in-the-washington-post/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>.
“Yet, once again air travel is the political football amid another government shutdown,” the letter added, saying that the “problem is solvable.”
The letter released on Sunday comes as travelers are headed throughout the United States and around the globe for spring break vacations. The White House confirmed to The Daily Wire last week that 300 TSA agents have quit since the shutdown started, as the essential government employees received an empty paycheck this cycle. The Denver International Airport even asked people to consider giving $10 and $20 grocery store and gas station gift cards to TSA agents. Starting pay for agents can sometimes be under $40,000 a year.
“TSA officers just received $0 paychecks. That is simply unacceptable. It&#8217;s difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, put gas in the car and pay rent when you are not getting paid,” the letter added.
“But too many travelers are having to wait in extraordinarily long-and painfully slow-lines at checkpoints. Wait times of 2, 3 and even 4 hours have been reported. Airlines are doing everything we can to mitigate disruption by holding flights for late passengers and rebooking others,” it added.
Talks to end the shutdown have appeared minimal as of late last week, with Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL), the top Republican negotiator on the issue, saying that Democrats have yet to come to the table, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mounting-frustration-as-senate-dems-dig-in-on-dhs-shutdown?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=1&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Hundreds+Of+TSA+Workers+Quit+As+Dems+Dig+In+On+Shutdown" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Daily Wire</a> reported.
“TSA officers have gone 74 days without a paycheck in FY26 because of Democrats’ two shutdowns. This is absolutely unacceptable,” Britt posted to X on Monday in response to the airline CEOs&#8217; letter. “Democrats need to end their political posturing, stop using our TSA agents as political pawns, and fully fund DHS.”
However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) posted last week that “Democrats are ready to fund TSA. Republicans are blocking it. Democrats are ready to fund CISA. Republicans are blocking it. Democrats are ready to fund FEMA. And Coast Guard. Republicans are blocking it.”

Landing in sunset hues, airplane landing at sunrise.

Airline CEOs Send Warning As Americans Face 4-Hour Airport Lines

Airlines

Airports

Department of Transportation

Transportation

Update, March 14: The ground stop has been lifted at the affected airports, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy <a href="https://x.com/SecDuffy/status/2032619927387914503">said</a>. Firefighters traced the smell to an overheated circuit breaker, and determined that there was no threat to workers.
WASHINGTON—Planes have been grounded at all three Washington, D.C.-area airports after a strong chemical smell forced workers to evacuate the region’s air traffic control center.
Flights were abruptly grounded at Reagan National, Dulles, and Baltimore-Washington International Airports late Friday, and inbound flights were diverted, causing major delays at one of the nation’s largest air travel hubs. It is unclear what caused the smell, or how long the airports will remain locked down. Flights were also grounded at Richmond International Airport.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
🚨BREAKING🚨 GROUND STOP CURRENTLY AT THE FOLLOWING AIRPORTS:
⚠️ Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) 
⚠️ Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) 
⚠️ Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI)⁰⚠️ Richmond International Airport (RIC)<a href="https://twitter.com/FAANews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FAANews</a> is working to…
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDuffy/status/2032582233920307569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> 
The FAA said the smell caused employees at the Potomac Consolidated Terminal RADAR Approach ​Control (TRACON) in Warrenton, Virginia, to evacuate the building, causing the delays. The agency is relocating controllers to a nearby facility, where they may begin diverting incoming flights due to congestion, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/flights-halted-dc-airports-after-chemical-smell-2026-03-13/">reported</a>.
&#8220;The FAA has temporarily stopped traffic at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) because of a strong chemical smell at the Potomac TRACON that is impacting some air traffic controllers,&#8221; the agency said in a statement.
The D.C.-area airports will likely continue to experience delays even after operations resume.
Friday&#8217;s shutdown is the latest incident to put stress on the nation&#8217;s airports. Over 300 <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/mounting-frustration-as-senate-dems-dig-in-on-dhs-shutdown?author=Cameron+Arcand&amp;category=undefined&amp;elementPosition=8&amp;row=3&amp;rowHeadline=Latest+News&amp;rowType=Vertical+Carousel&amp;title=Hundreds+Of+TSA+Workers+Quit+As+Dems+Dig+In+On+Shutdown">TSA agents have quit</a> amid the ongoing partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security, which directly affects their pay. Even more are expected to begin calling out of work beginning Friday, the first day agents missed a paycheck since the shutdown began.
“Democrats, regrettably, have chosen to punish the American people with long TSA lines and withholding paychecks from workers who help protect our country,” the White House told The Daily Wire Friday afternoon, adding that the Trump administration remains “interested in continuing conversations with Democrats about ways to end this shutdown.”
This is a developing story, please refresh this page for more updates

Airport

Chemical Smell Suddenly Grounds Flights At Several Major Airports

airport

Sean Duffy

Virginia

Washington D.C.

Some Department of Homeland Security employees, including Transportation Security Administration agents, will receive only partial paychecks this week as the department&#8217;s funding lapse continues.
The standoff between the White House and congressional Democrats shows little sign of resolution. At issue are proposed restrictions on federal immigration enforcement tactics, which Democrats are seeking in exchange for restoring funding.
“Democrats have submitted a laundry list of demands in order for the government to fund the Department of Homeland Security,” Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-WY) said on the Senate floor Thursday.
&#8220;260,000 people in all working without pay. It&#8217;s the Democrats that shut down the Department of Homeland Security, or at least refused to pay them. They’re still working, but they’re not getting paid because of the Democrats,” Barrasso said, adding that “Republicans have offered fair terms for a deal.”
Few details on any compromise have been made public, despite counteroffers exchanged as recently as Thursday, a White House official confirmed on background on Friday.
&#8220;Yesterday, the White House made another serious counteroffer. Democrats need to make a move to end the shutdown before more Americans are harmed by a lack of funding for critical services like disaster relief,&#8221; the official stated.
Since TSA agents are considered essential government employees, many will continue working without full pay. A similar shutdown last fall led to high absenteeism among screeners.
Democrats have pushed for major reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, including an end to masking and the use of judicial warrants. Despite the demands, ICE is already primarily funded through the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” that Trump signed in July.
“The American people know that ICE needs to be reined in,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said during a press conference earlier this month, accusing Republicans of refusing to compromise.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) criticized the Trump administration over a pause in Global Entry services, calling it a &#8220;bullying tactic.&#8221;
“The Trump administration is choosing to inflict pain on the public instead of adopting common sense ICE reforms,&#8221; he added in the statement.
Other DHS agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard and FEMA, are also affected. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday that &#8220;significant portions&#8221; of FEMA staff were placed on administrative leave.
&#8220;The longer DHS goes without funding, the less prepared our nation will be for threats at the FIFA World Cup and America 250,&#8221; Noem posted on X. &#8220;This Democrat shutdown directly impacts DHS’s ability to keep Americans safe at these events and our national security.&#8221;
The partial shutdown began on February 14, after DHS was separated from a broader government spending package following escalating tensions over immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota.

Spending Bill – Government Shutdown – Debt Ceiling

Funding Fight Turns Ugly — Who Is Getting Shorted?

homeland security

Travel

[UPDATE]: The Transportation Security Administration announced that TSA PreCheck will remain open. In a statement, TSA <a href="https://abc7ny.com/post/tsa-says-precheck-operational-previous-announcement-suspension-amid-partial-government-shutdown/18634978/">said</a>: “As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case by case basis and adjust operations accordingly.”
[ORIGINAL STORY]
The more than 20 million Americans who pay for expedited airport security with TSA PreCheck will be stuck with everyone else as long as the government shutdown continues.
The partial government shutdown has resulted in the temporary suspension of both the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck and Global Entry security programs – a move Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said was designed to prioritize the general pool of travelers.
“Shutdowns have serious real world consequences,&#8221; <a href="https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-tsa-precheck-global-entry-dc1d2ccd913a74fa2c8b91dad340a3b3">Noem said</a>, adding, &#8220;TSA and CBP are prioritizing the general traveling population at our airports and ports of entry and suspending courtesy and special privilege escorts.”
The two programs work in tandem to speed up security lines for departing travelers. TSA PreCheck allows registered travelers to check in for flights more quickly. Pre-approved travelers are not required to remove electronics from their bags, and security lines often move through in ten minutes or less.
For arriving travelers, the Global Entry program allows them to use an automated kiosk equipped with facial recognition software to avoid the long customs lines and complete passport verification. It is designed to eliminate the need to stand in long customs lines when returning to the United States from abroad. Travelers who pay for the Global Entry program also receive the benefits offered to TSA PreCheck members.
Democrats on the Homeland Security Committee released a statement claiming that the suspension of those programs was entirely political and accused DHS of intentionally punishing travelers.
&#8220;TRUMP’S DHS IS PUNISHING TRAVELERS.   TSA PreCheck and Global Entry reduce lines and ease the burden on DHS staff [sic]  But Kristi Noem and her &#8216;confidant&#8217; Corey Lewandowski are kneecapping the programs that make travel smoother and secure  . They’re ruining your travel on purpose,&#8221; the <a href="https://x.com/HomelandDems/status/2025420989178257425">statement</a> posted to X read.
TSA released a <a href="https://x.com/TSA/status/2022067729503858905">similar statement</a> at the start of the shutdown, blaming Democrats for leveraging the TSA in their efforts to force President Donald Trump&#8217;s administration into making changes to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
&#8220;The government shutdown will cease pay for all of TSA’s more than 63,000-person workforce and suspend non-essential services. Over 99% of that workforce resides in communities across the country,&#8221; Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator Adam Stahl said in a statement. &#8220;Democrats should fund the department and stop punishing our workforce and the everyday travelers they serve. A prolonged shutdown could result in significant attrition and increased callout rates of our officers including noticeable impacts at airports, including delays, longer wait times and cancelled flights.&#8221;

TSA Seizes Record Number Of Guns in 2015

Government Shutdown Hits Travelers: Global Entry Suspended, PreCheck Still Operational

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) trolled Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) over the high-speed rail project that has been steadily rising in cost despite showing little progress over the course of nearly two decades.
Newsom jabbed at the TSA first, boasting in a press conference that nearly 11 years after the project&#8217;s 2015 ground-breaking, 463 miles of the planned route were finally ready for construction to begin — and saying that eventually, passengers on his high-speed rail would not have to suffer the indignity of removing their shoes to travel.
&#8220;While Texas canceled its project, California keeps building,&#8221; Newsom&#8217;s Press Office posted, neglecting to mention the fact that while Texas had canceled due to skyrocketing costs, California had simply opted to pass the added cost on to investors and depend on government grants. &#8220;463 miles are now ready for construction. We’re past the hardest part, and we’re finishing the job.&#8221;
&#8220;High-speed rail means no TSA lines, no removing your shoes — just fast, clean travel,&#8221; the post read.
The TSA pointed out that airline passengers had not been required to remove their shoes while passing through airport security since July of 2025 — and noted that while getting 463 miles of planned route ready for construction was certainly an accomplishment, the trains were not yet ready to leave the station.
&#8220;Congratulations Gov. Newsom! 463 miles &#8216;ready for construction,&#8217; maybe someday it will join the 20,000+ miles of passenger rail we already secure,&#8221; the TSA&#8217;s post read. &#8220;Meanwhile, Americans, who don&#8217;t fly private jets, have kept their shoes on at TSA checkpoints since July. Enjoy your next flight!&#8221;
The California high-speed rail project, touted by then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) and originally approved in 2008, has long been viewed as a boondoggle of astronomical proportions. The initial budget was estimated at $33 billion, and was supposed to be completed by 2020. Initial passenger service was scheduled to begin in 2022.
Instead, over the course of 18 years, the price tag has ballooned to more than $135 billion and the ground along the proposed route is only just now &#8220;ready&#8221; for construction to begin. Passenger service has been delayed until sometime between 2030 and 2033.
In July of 2017, President Donald Trump announced that his administration was terminating some $4 billion in federal funding for the project: &#8220;To the law-abiding, tax-paying, hardworking citizens of the United States of America, I am thrilled to announce that I have officially freed you from funding California’s disastrously overpriced, ‘HIGH SPEED TRAIN TO NOWHERE.'&#8221;

California Governor Gavin Newsom Interview

TSA Trolls Gavin Newsom Over California’s High Speed Rail Money Pit

California

Gavin Newsom

High Speed rail

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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced on Thursday that thousands of TSA agents would receive a $10,000 bonus check for showing “exemplary service” and “stepping up” during the government shutdown.
Noem made the announcement at a press conference, standing alongside a group of TSA agents who were among the more than one million government workers who went weeks without pay during the longest government shutdown in American history. Government workers who went without paychecks during the 44-day government shutdown are also getting back pay.
“We are not only going to continue their paychecks like they should’ve received all along, but also they’re going to receive a bonus check for stepping up, taking on extra shifts, for showing up each and every day, for serving the American people,” Noem said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sec_Noem</a> announces $10,000 bonus checks for <a href="https://twitter.com/TSA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TSA</a> agents who showed up for work and took on extra shifts — despite not receiving paychecks — during the Democrat Shutdown. <a href="https://t.co/TqncMEPPnl">pic.twitter.com/TqncMEPPnl</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1989037520420762096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Noem added that the administration “will be looking at every single TSA official that helped serve during this government shutdown and do what we can to recognize that and help them financially with a bonus check to get them and their family back on their feet.” The Homeland Security Secretary then passed out checks to the agents standing behind her.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sec_Noem</a> hands out $10,000 bonus checks to Houston TSA workers who stepped up and showed up to work during the Democrat government shutdown <a href="https://t.co/N5yLMiPeEb">pic.twitter.com/N5yLMiPeEb</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1989037944787566668?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Airports and the airline industry were hit hard by the record-breaking government shutdown, as the federal government had to address a shortage of air traffic controllers. The Federal Aviation Administration said last week it would slash air traffic by up to 10% at 40 of the busiest airports across the country as the shutdown continued. While the shutdown officially ended on Wednesday night when President Donald Trump signed the short-term government spending bill, officials warned that air travel disruptions could continue for days.
Trump also <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-floats-plan-to-reward-air-traffic-controllers-who-didnt-take-time-off-due-to-shutdown">promised</a> to hand out $10,000 bonus checks to air traffic controllers who stayed on the job during the shutdown.
“For those Air Traffic Controllers who were GREAT PATRIOTS, and didn’t take ANY TIME OFF for the ‘Democrat Shutdown Hoax,’ I will be recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country,” Trump said on Monday.
Many controllers called in sick during the shutdown, with some picking up temporary jobs to cover lost income, and the president sharply criticized those absences.
“For those that did nothing but complain, and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid, IN FULL, shortly into the future, I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU,” Trump said. “You didn’t step up to help the U.S.A. against the FAKE DEMOCRAT ATTACK that was only meant to hurt our Country. You will have a negative mark, at least in my mind, against your record.”

Kristi Noem

Noem Hands Out $10,000 Checks To TSA Agents Who Worked Through Shutdown

Air and Space

Donald Trump

Trump Administration

The consequences of the government shutdown rear their ugly heads, a congressional hearing to examine the origins of political violence, and Trump continues his Asia tour as the Left melts down over his East Wing renovations.
It’s Tuesday, October 28, 2025, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/mrn-251028">the video version can be seen on The Daily Wire</a>:
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">Government Shutdown Repercussions</h2>
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Topline: The government shutdown is dragging on, and pressure is mounting on Democrats to end it.
About 13,000 air traffic controllers are set to miss their first paycheck on Tuesday, which is bound to make a bad situation significantly worse. Some reports say air traffic controllers are taking second jobs as DoorDash drivers to supplement their income.
Roughly 18,700 flights were delayed on Sunday. On Monday, more than 3,000 flights were delayed, and more than 100 were canceled. Airports have become a flash point of the shutdown. Air traffic controllers and TSA agents were some of the first employees to see their pay disrupted, and Americans are generally united in hating flight delays.
Uh-oh, Democrats: A couple of major airline pilot unions last week called for an end to the shutdown, and that turned out to be only a precursor of what was to come. Now, the largest union representing 800,000 federal workers, the American Federation of Government Employees, has issued a statement calling for the Senate to pass a continuing resolution to end the shutdown.
Union President Everett Kelley said it&#8217;s time for leaders to focus on solving problems for the American people rather than on who is going to get the blame for the shutdown. He is calling for back pay for every single employee who has been forced to stay home.
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AFGE is a Democratic stalwart. It pushed to stop the Trump administration from making federal workers return to the office, it endorsed Joe Biden for president, and just last week, it blamed Trump and congressional Republicans for keeping the government closed. But while this statement doesn’t lay the blame on one party in particular, the union calls for a clean CR, which Republicans have put forward over a dozen times and Democrats keep rejecting.
Oh SNAP: In addition to flight delays and organized labor turning against them, Democrats also have to contend with the fact that food stamps benefits will lapse starting on Friday.
The expiration of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will impact 40 million people. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer said on Monday that not only is this affecting airports, but that some states, such as his own, will now have to be forced to cut off SNAP benefits—an example of SNAP becoming one of the big talking points this week.
Food stamps are not an explicitly partisan issue, and lawmakers from both parties will have to explain this disruption in benefits to their constituents. Democrats are working to shift the blame to Republicans. The California Department of Social Services is texting residents, blaming the imminent SNAP disruption on Trump and the GOP.
Republicans dismissed the attack, as California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom is using taxpayer money to spread political propaganda. But each new disruption is likely going to hit Democrats harder than Republicans, increasing the likelihood that some members of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s caucus break ranks in the coming days.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Hearing On Politically Violent Attacks</h2>
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Topline: The assassination of Charlie Kirk has prompted a congressional hearing for Tuesday, organized by Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO), on &#8220;Politically Violent Attacks.” The hearing seeks to examine the origins of political violence and extremism, which have come mainly from the Left in recent years. 
Morning Wire spoke with Sen. Schmitt and Michael Knowles, host of “<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/show/the-michael-knowles-show">The Michael Knowles Show</a>” on The Daily Wire, about the nature of political violence in the United States today. (The following transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.)
Morning Wire: Senator, you’ve organized this hearing, and this issue is obviously a high priority. What are the goals of the proceedings today?
Schmitt: The assassination of Charlie Kirk brought left-wing political violence really front and center, and I think it needs to be exposed. This isn’t a one-off thing. This is sort of an ideology that’s taken hold now. When you have 25% of those who describe themselves as “very liberal” believe political violence is justified, over 55% of those on the left believe it&#8217;s at least somewhat justifiable to assassinate President Trump, there’s a problem. And I think if we’re ever going to get on the other side of this and get to healing – where we can say, free speech, yes, political violence, no – we have to expose the truth, which is that this is overwhelmingly coming from one side.
Morning Wire: Senator thanks for joining us. Among those testifying at the hearing today is Daily Wire host Michael Knowles. Michael, good to have you back on. You obviously were invited to this hearing for specific reasons – tell us about that, and what you plan to address.
Knowles: I was invited largely because I was the target of leftist violence on a few occasions, but of organized leftist violence, specifically two years ago. This was at the University of Pittsburgh. I was doing a debate on the topic of transgenderism, and there was a large demonstration. They burnt me in effigy, lit the street on fire, and then two Antifa operatives showed up and threw smoke bombs at the attendees and the police. And then threw a large explosive firework at the police and seriously injured one female police officer, gave her life-altering injuries that took her out of work for at least a year – and also injured other police officers as well. … Happily, there was one intrepid FBI agent in the crowd, and he had noticed the uptick in left-wing violence at these conservative speaker events. … It was only because he really pushed this up through the DOJ that any charges were brought at all. … So these are two people who are members of an anarchist cell, part of the Torch Antifa Network. The guy had set off TSA scanners with explosive material multiple times. It’s an illustrative example of violence because if you look up left-wing ideologically motivated violence in any of the databases that concern it or at the federal government level, you won&#8217;t find it. It won&#8217;t turn up. That just doesn&#8217;t exist, and this is true for a lot of examples of left-wing violence, perhaps most notably the BLM riots, which are just simply not classified as left-wing violence. … So we’re going to call attention to that fact, as well as to the fact that now even the honest liberals can not hold up the lie that the violence is coming from the right.
Morning Wire: What do you think the federal government’s role should be in addressing politically motivated violence — is there a line which they should not cross?
Knowles: I don’t think we’re at fear of over-policing left-wing terrorists, okay? I think we’re barely policing them at all. And so then the question becomes, well, what tools are at the federal government&#8217;s disposal? And there are plenty. You know, President Trump has said that he will classify Antifa as a domestic terror organization. Now, the government is more limited in its resources to go after domestic terrorists as opposed to foreign terrorists. However, we&#8217;ve done it before. The federal government has successfully dismantled the Ku Klux Klan, has successfully dismantled organized crime using all sorts of statutes; going after them for RICO, for conspiracy, for all manner of things all the way up to tax evasion, I suppose. President Trump putting this renewed focus on it is very important because the Left has dismissed this as a concern by lying and saying that the political violence is a right-wing phenomenon, and it has allowed this problem to fester so much so that we saw its tragic apotheosis in the murder of Charlie Kirk – and we cannot allow that to continue anymore.
<h2 style="text-align: center;">Trump Hunts For A Deal</h2>
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Topline: President Trump continues his swing through Asia as Democrat and media backlash builds following his White House renovation.
Japan: After signing a big peace deal Sunday between Thailand and Cambodia and rolling out new trade deals elsewhere, Trump headed to Japan, where he received royal treatment. Famous landmarks across Tokyo were lit up with red, white, and blue displays.
The Trump administration and Japan reached a deal on rare earth minerals on Tuesday and unveiled a list of projects included in a $550 billion investment proposal stemming from a July trade agreement.
The rare earth deal, which President Donald Trump signed alongside Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, establishes a mutual stockpiling arrangement and stipulates that the United States and Japan will cooperate with international partners to protect the supply chain, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/trump-takaichi-agree-rare-earth-critical-minerals-supply-2025-10-28/">reported</a>. Trump has been pushing to better secure the rare-earth supply chain and cut into China&#8217;s stranglehold over rare-earth minerals.
Along with the rare-earth deal, the United States and Japan released a list of proposed projects to boost Japanese investment in the U.S. economy. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1983119054983287061">said</a> at a press conference alongside Trump on Tuesday that the proposals &#8220;are driven by the Japanese strategic investment initiative, which was created by [Trump&#8217;s] tariff policy and by [Trump&#8217;s] historic trade agreement with Japan.&#8221;
The White House credited the threat of tariffs with pushing our trading partners to make deals favorable to the United States. Deals were announced with Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam on Sunday, and now Japan has been added to the list on Monday. But the world is still waiting to see what will come of this meeting with China on Thursday. 
China: Officials from both sides have continued to meet to hammer out the framework of a deal. The White House says it&#8217;s confident both sides will agree to dramatically lower tariffs and possibly strike a permanent solution to the battle over TikTok ownership.
Trump put it more bluntly: “I think we&#8217;re going to come away with a deal.”
While Trump’s optimism has not always preceded deals, investors seem to think this is good news. Gold, cryptocurrency, and oil prices all spiked on Monday as global markets rallied to all-time highs across Asia.
On Wall Street, the DOW, NASDAQ, and S&amp;P 500 all hit record highs on Monday. Leading the way were tech companies like Nvidia, which have been hobbled this year by massive tariffs on semiconductors. Stateside, shares of domestic mining companies fell, a sign that investors believe China is about to reopen the flow of rare earth minerals as part of a looming deal.
White House remodel: The East Wing of the White House has now been demolished to make way for a 90,000 square foot ballroom. The administration says it’s a matter of practicality and safety, noting that in the past, if a president wanted to hold a large event honoring foreign dignitaries, they were often forced to erect makeshift tents on the White House lawn.
Former presidents such as Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, FDR, Harry S. Truman, Richard Nixon, and Barack Obama added items to the White House, made renovations, or removed items. Though that has not stopped criticism from being leveled at Trump over his plans for a ballroom.
There are already some on the Left attempting to mount a legal challenge to block the project. A Virginia couple filed a motion in a D.C. federal court last week seeking a temporary restraining order against the demolition, arguing it violates the National Historic Preservation Act. The administration says it’s well within its authority to make renovations, the same way so many presidents have done before.

MRN_251028_V1

Morning Brief: Shutdown Fallout Mounts & Congress Probes Political Violence

Morning Brief: Shutdown Consequences Coming, Leftist Political Violence, And Trump's China Deal

Charlie Kirk

China

Democratic Party

Eric Schmitt

Japan

Michael Knowles

Morning Wire

Along with Tulsi Gabbard, who now serves as Director of National Intelligence, three Republican members of Congress were surveilled by the now-defunct TSA “Quiet Skies” program, independent journalist Matt Taibbi <a href="https://www.racket.news/p/not-only-tulsi-three-members-of-congress">reported</a> on Tuesday.
According to documents handed over to the Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, two of the three Republican representatives were placed on a surveillance list before they were elected, but remained there after joining Congress. According to the Senate committee’s notes, “a cursory review would have revealed them to be a member of Congress, or a decorated U.S. veteran or service member,” Taibbi reported.
The names of the members of Congress and the states they represent were redacted in the government documents.
The TSA’s “Quiet Skies” program, which began in 2010, came under intense scrutiny last year after whistleblowers revealed that Gabbard — then a former Democratic congresswoman who was highly critical of the Democratic Party — was followed by Air Marshals and bomb-sniffing dogs under the TSA program. “Quiet Skies” was ended by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in June. Noem <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/06/05/secretary-noem-ends-politicized-tsa-watchlist-program-has-failed-prevent-single">said</a>, “It is clear that the Quiet Skies program was used as a political rolodex of the Biden Administration — weaponized against its political foes and exploited to benefit their well-heeled friends.”
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The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee also revealed that TSA approved a watchlist, or “enhanced screening,” for people “suspected of traveling to the National Capital Region” in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The watchlist was deemed appropriate for people “believed to pose an elevated risk” but for whom “there is a current lack of specific information relating to unlawful entry into the U.S. Capitol.”
Gabbard was surveilled on at least eight flights during the summer of 2024, according to documents handed over to the committee. The former Democratic lawmaker was listed as a “possible affiliate” of a member of the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB). According to The New York Times, Gabbard landed on the list after she attended an event “at the Vatican that was organized by a European businessman who appeared on an F.B.I. watch list.”
A text exchange between Marshals assigned to follow Gabbard from July 22, 2024, also pointed to the TSDB as the reason that Gabbard was placed on the list.
“So Gabbard is an affiliate with a TSDB, and since she’s no longer in Congress that’s probably why she hit for the rule,” one Marshal wrote.
“Yeah I talked with [redacted] about it and that’s the conclusion we came to as well,” a second Marshal replied.
“Cool cool.”
One former Marshal, however, told Taibbi that the decision to place Gabbard on the list wasn’t necessarily made by an automated database.
“Obviously, there is a way for human beings to influence the decision tree above our level,” the former Marshal said.
Taibbi testified before the Senate committee on Tuesday and ripped the federal government’s “Quiet Skies” surveillance program.
“Before Quiet Skies was discontinued by this administration, it was a symbol of the steep decline of federal enforcement since 9/11. The government spent $200 million a year following up to 50 people a day for a program that in its history never once led to an arrest, or thwarted a single criminal act,” Taibbi told the committee. “Despite its demonstrated inutility and grave civil liberties concerns it was re-funded year after year because this is what our government does now: it gathers information on its own citizens as an end in itself.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
The full opening statement of <a href="https://twitter.com/mtaibbi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mtaibbi</a> <a href="https://t.co/NJ2fRqNeWX">https://t.co/NJ2fRqNeWX</a> <a href="https://t.co/TaGBhBfYY1">pic.twitter.com/TaGBhBfYY1</a>
— Emily Chapple (@blonde4thewin) <a href="https://twitter.com/blonde4thewin/status/1973065367527260667?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
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TSA, Tulsi Gabbard

Three GOP Congress Members Were Placed Under TSA Surveillance Program That Targeted Tulsi Gabbard

Federal Government

Republicans

Surveillance

Tulsi Gabbard

A new bill that would protect Americans&#8217; ability to opt out of biometric security checks at the airport is being challenged by the airline industry, which claims that it would slow down travel and jeopardize security.
The <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1691/text">bill</a>, the Traveler Privacy Protection Act of 2025, would limit the ability of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to store and use the biometric data of Americans going through the airport. Lawmakers say the bill is necessary to protect privacy and standardize how biometric data is used by the federal government.
The bipartisan proposal, first introduced by Democrat Senator Jeff Merkley (OR), is backed by Republican Senators Roger Marshall (KS), John Kennedy (LA), and Steve Daines (MT). The bill is set to be heard before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on Wednesday morning.
“Privacy is one of America’s most sacred liberties, and we must protect it,” Marshall said when the bill was introduced in May. “In no universe should the federal government collect biometric data from Americans without their full, informed consent. The Traveler Privacy Protection Act strengthens safeguards around this sensitive data and brings transparency for travelers.”
The legislation would require TSA to give travelers the option to have their identity verified without facial recognition technology, standardize practices toward those who opt out, and ensure that those who opt in do not have their data stored indefinitely.
On Monday, a coalition of groups including the U.S. Travel Association, Airlines for America, the American Association of Airport Executives, and the Airports Council International-North America, sent a <a href="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/07/2025.07.28_S.1691-Letter-to-CST_FINAL.pdf">letter</a> to the Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz (R-TX) and ranking member Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) in opposition to the bill.
“Limiting the use of FRT thwarts ongoing efforts to modernize the travel experience as we prepare to welcome the world for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, America’s 250th birthday, and the 2028 Summer Olympics, and jeopardizes the Trump Administration’s recent success in modernizing airport screening with the implementation of One Stop Security, the enforcement of REAL ID, and the end of the ‘shoes off’ policy,” the groups wrote in a letter obtained by The Daily Wire.
The letter also argued that the legislation would bog down security processing and “weaken aviation security and immigration enforcement across the country.”
Over the last few weeks, the committee has been working to address concerns from both the TSA and the airline industry with the bill, and will introduce an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to deal with some of those concerns. The committee incorporated around 80% of the TSA’s technical assistance requests for the legislation, according to a source familiar with the matter.
That amendment bill has not yet been publicly released, though it was referenced in the airline industry&#8217;s letter leading to congressional concern that TSA is sharing drafts of legislation with the airline industry and using them to lobby against legislation.
“Now that senators are prepared to safeguard Americans’ privacy, TSA is getting their industry friends to carry water,” a senior GOP congressional aide told POLITICO.
The TSA did not respond to requests for comment from The Daily Wire.
While passengers are currently allowed to opt out of facial recognition, the <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1691/text">draft</a> of the bill would guarantee that all passengers are given “the option to opt-in to the use of facial recognition or facial matching technology for identity verification at the screening location” and ensure that they will not be treated differently based on their choice.
The legislation would also ensure that data collected for testing purposes would be deleted within 90 days of collection.

Miami, Florida, Miami International Airport, security screening information, sign optional facial recognition personal ID identity verification technology TSA

Airline Industry Lobbies Against Bill That Would Restrict TSA Use Of Biometric Data

National Security

The Trump administration is moving to end the requirement that passengers remove their shoes when going through airport security, according to multiple reports.
The much-hated shoe removal mandate, which has been in place since 2006, is being gradually phased out in the coming weeks, according to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents who have told multiple news outlets. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the news on Tuesday morning. 
The phase-out began at Baltimore/Washington International Airport, Fort Lauderdale International Airport, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Portland International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, and Piedmont Triad International Airport in North Carolina, CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tsa-shoes-rule-expires/">reported</a>. 
On Tuesday morning, Leavitt posted, “Big news from [the Department of Homeland Security]!” in response to an X news post on the policy change. 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Big news from <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DHSgov</a>! ✈️👟 <a href="https://t.co/GJjd2UQMki">https://t.co/GJjd2UQMki</a>
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1942566895011447059?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
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“TSA and DHS are always exploring new and innovative ways to enhance the passenger experience and our strong security posture,” a TSA spokesman <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/travel/tsa-shoes-removal-airport-security.html">told</a> the New York Times on Monday. “Any potential updates to our security process will be issued through official channels.”
The news was first <a href="https://gateaccess.substack.com/p/exclusive-tsa-to-end-shoe-removal">reported</a> by Gate Access on July 4, which stated that the TSA had begun circulating the updated shoe guidance. Before the change, visitors enrolled in the TSA PreCheck program were permitted to keep their shoes, belts, and jackets on and were not required to remove laptops or liquids from their bags. 
Some conservative commentators praised the move from the Trump administration.
&#8220;Rejoice, you no longer have to take your shoes off to go through TSA airport security. Always a moronic rule that didn’t seem likely to make any of us safer. But this removal is likely to make airport security lines run way smoother,&#8221;  Outkick founder Clay Travis said.
In December 2001, a month after the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, airline passenger Richard Reid attempted to ignite explosive devices hidden in his shoes while on a flight from Paris to Miami. Still considered a threat years later, the shoe removal policy was first <a href="https://www.tsa.gov/timeline">instituted</a> in 2006 as a way to screen airline passengers for explosives. 
Reid, known as the shoe bomber, had homemade bombs containing 10 ounces of explosive materials hidden in his shoes that the FBI <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/history/artifacts/richard-reids-shoes">said</a> would have blown a hole in the plane’s fuselage if detonated successfully. After pleading guilty to eight terrorism-related charges, Reid was sentenced to life in prison.

Denver International Airport scenes

Trump Admin Phasing Out Most Hated Airport Screening Policy

Karoline Leavitt

Security

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TSA