The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM Union) called on March 22 for the immediate payment of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees, as U.S. airports continue to experience significant security delays. The statement was made in conjunction with the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, Association of Professional Flight Attendants, and International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 135.
The unions said that paying TSA workers is crucial to maintaining airport security and preventing further disruption for travelers. They criticized the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for not using its discretionary funding to pay TSA officers during a partial government shutdown, while continuing to compensate Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and active duty Coast Guard members.
“Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers must be paid now,” the unions said in their joint statement. “The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has billions of dollars in discretionary funding that could be used to pay TSOs during this partial shutdown, just like they have chosen to continue paying ICE and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents, as well as active duty members of the U.S. Coast Guard. Instead of paying TSOs, they have chosen to create havoc in our airports.”
The statement also raised concerns about proposals to deploy ICE agents at airports as a replacement for trained TSA staff: “This latest threat of ICE invasion at the airports is another distraction from solutions that protect Americans.” The unions explained that Transportation Security Officers undergo six months of specialized training focused on screening passengers and identifying concealed threats—skills they say cannot be quickly acquired by ICE agents.
They added that assigning immigration enforcement personnel such as ICE agents would introduce conflicting priorities at airport checkpoints: “Attempts to question passengers about immigration status may distract them from ensuring airport security.” According to the unions, only fully trained TSA officers can effectively safeguard air travel.
“There’s one solution that immediately solves the problem at our airports. Pay the people who are already trained to protect us from terror attacks today, especially as the war with Iran increases the desire to strike against Americans,” they said. The joint statement concluded with a call: “Pay TSA Workers now.”
