Sherman Blasts Trump for Blocking TSA Deal, Deploying ICE at Airports to Push Voting Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32) today criticized President Donald Trump for derailing a bipartisan agreement to fund the Department of Homeland Security and deploying ICE agents to airport security checkpoints, as delays and TSA staffing shortages continue to strain airports nationwide.

“Trump just blew up a bipartisan deal to end this TSA nightmare because he wants to force through a voter suppression bill,” said Congressman Sherman. “Let that sink in.”

Sherman warned that, in the absence of proper TSA staffing and funding, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel have been deployed into airport roles for which they are not trained — leading to confusion and operational disruptions rather than improved security.

“Instead of paying TSA workers, the administration is sending ICE into airports who aren’t trained for aviation security and are already causing confusion and disruption, not solving the problem,” Sherman said.

The Congressman further accused Trump of holding TSA workers’ paychecks hostage in an effort to advance the SAVE Act — legislation Sherman voted against and says would make it harder for millions of eligible Americans to vote: “He’s wreaking havoc across airports and putting aviation security at risk, all to pass legislation that would restrict access to the ballot box."

In response, Sherman announced that he has requested his own congressional salary be withheld until TSA workers receive their pay. See copy of Sherman's request here.

“Members of Congress should live by the same rules as the people we represent,” Sherman said. “If TSA workers aren’t getting paid, neither should we.”

Sherman called on Trump to reverse course immediately.

“Stop standing in the way. Fund TSA. Get ICE out of airports. End this now.”