US President Donald Trump will convene a meeting of his Cabinet at the White House on Thursday morning (March 26) as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) enters its 41st day, putting pressure on federal agencies and air transport operations.
The meeting comes amid growing concerns about delays at airports caused by a shortage of staff at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) during the DHS funding shortfall. Passengers faced hour-long waits at major US airports, with absenteeism rates among TSA officers reaching 40-50% at some airports.
Earlier this week, Trump deployed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to assist the TSA at airports in an effort to alleviate long security lines.
Political stalemate
Both Republicans and Democrats have proposed bills to separate the TSA and other non-immigration agencies from DHS funding measures, but those efforts have been blocked in Congress, prolonging the shutdown. The standoff is part of broader disputes over immigration policy and DHS budget allocations.
International context
The cabinet meeting coincides with continued tensions between the US and Iran as the two countries negotiate the terms of a potential Middle East ceasefire deal.
