Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson issued a stark warning Thursday, stating that the ongoing government shutdown could pose a severe threat to aviation security. Johnson, who served under President Obama, described the current situation as "sheer madness" during an appearance on MSNBC's Morning Joe.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has been hit hard by the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with hundreds of TSA officers resigning due to unpaid wages. Johnson noted that at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the busiest in the country, 40% of TSA officers failed to report for work this week, resulting in security lines stretching four to five hours.
"I am concerned that what’s happening now is going to break the back of aviation security in this country," Johnson said.
President Trump has ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to assist TSA at airports to mitigate the growing crisis. However, Johnson emphasized that the defunding of DHS undermines national security at a critical time, particularly as tensions with Iran escalate. "We are in a heightened threat environment because we have gone to war against the government of Iran, a state sponsor of terrorism," he said.
Congress remains deadlocked over funding for DHS, with Democrats demanding new restrictions on ICE operations following recent protests and fatal shootings in Minneapolis. The Senate is set to vote on a funding measure Thursday, but no resolution appears imminent. Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines has suspended its "specialty services" for members of Congress, citing disruptions caused by the shutdown.
The prolonged defunding of DHS threatens not only airport operations but also the broader security infrastructure protecting American workers and travelers.