Recently, President Donald Trump expressed that while Democratic lawmakers seek funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), he believes no deal should be made until they approve the Protecting American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE). This sentiment was shared in a post by Hannah Brandt, a NewsNation correspondent based in Washington, D.C. She described a phone call where she questioned Trump about the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at airports. This inquiry followed Trump’s announcement that he would deploy ICE agents to airports for security purposes if DHS funding isn’t approved.
During this phone conversation, Trump mentioned that the Democrats desire a deal on DHS funding, but he firmly stated, “I don’t think there should be any deal on this until we get approval to save America,” as conveyed by Blunt, who also participated in the call.
Brandt continued, saying that when she asked Trump how long he intended to keep ICE agents at airports, he simply replied, “As long as it takes.”
Blunt also noted that some legislators have suggested funding the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), since no agreement has been reached for its budget. With Trump’s proposal for ICE officers at airports, he pointed out that now Democrats are more inclined to seek a deal.
Trump further asserted to Blunt, “Until they approve SAVE America, I don’t think we should make any deals on this.” In a follow-up post on Truth Social, he reiterated that he wouldn’t entertain any agreements with “the crazy, country-destroying radical left Democrats” unless they passed the SAVE America Act.
According to Trump, this act holds greater importance than other Senate discussions. He criticized Democrats for a $5 billion cut to ICE funding, labeling the potential deal as unacceptable. Trump emphasized necessities such as voter ID, regulating mail-in ballots, and prohibiting transgender “mutilation” of children as vital components of any agreement.
This context is shaping discussions among Republican lawmakers as they explore separating funding for ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from DHS funding. Senator Ted Cruz’s proposal comes amidst a surge in spring break travelers and long TSA lines, prompting advisories for passengers to arrive several hours early for flights. The TSA has been dealing with the implications of working without pay since funding began to dwindle on February 14.
Reports indicate that over 400 TSA employees have lost their jobs due to the partial shutdown, with many being seasoned officers. This situation continues to evolve with ongoing budget discussions.
